Sunshine Sykes | |
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 | |
| Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Central District of California | |
| Assumed office June 14, 2022 | |
| Appointed by | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | James V. Selna |
| Judge of theRiverside CountySuperior Court | |
| In office December 5, 2013 – June 14, 2022 | |
| Appointed by | Jerry Brown |
| Preceded by | Randall White |
| Succeeded by | Magdalena Cohen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Sunshine Suzanne Sykes 1974 (age 50–51) Tuba City, Arizona, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic[1] |
| Education | Stanford University (BA,JD) |
Sunshine Suzanne Sykes (born 1974)[2] is an American lawyer serving as aUnited States district judge of theUnited States District Court for the Central District of California.[3] She previously served as a judge of theCalifornia Superior Court forRiverside County from 2013 to 2022.
Sykes was born on theNavajo Nation Reservation inTuba City, Arizona, and was raised inGallup, New Mexico. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree fromStanford University in 1997 and aJuris Doctor fromStanford Law School in 2001.[4]
From 2001 to 2003, Sykes worked as a staff attorney for California Indian Legal Services. From 2003 to 2005, she was a contract attorney for the Defense Panel at the Southwest Justice Center. She also worked for theCalifornia Department of Social Services. From 2005 to 2013, Sykes served as deputy county counsel forRiverside County, California. In 2013, she was nominated by then-GovernorJerry Brown to serve as a judge on theRiverside CountySuperior Court.[3][5]
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On December 15, 2021, PresidentJoe Biden nominated Sykes to serve as aUnited States district judge of theUnited States District Court for the Central District of California. Presiden Biden nominated Sykes to the seat vacated by JudgeJames V. Selna, who assumedsenior status on March 3, 2020.[6] On February 1, 2022, a hearing on her nomination was held before theSenate Judiciary Committee.[7] On March 10, 2022, her nomination was reported out of committee by a 12–10 vote.[8] On May 17, 2022, theUnited States Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a 51–45 vote.[9] On May 18, 2022, her nomination was confirmed by a 51–45 vote.[10] She received her judicial commission on June 14, 2022.[11] Sykes became the fifthAmerican Indian ever to serve on the federal bench.[12]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.| Legal offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Central District of California 2022–present | Incumbent |