John A. Kronstadt
Encyclopedia
John Arnold Kronstadt is a district judge on the United States District Court for the Central District of California
. On April 12, 2011, the Senate
voted 96-0 to confirm Kronstadt. He received his judicial commission on April 14, 2011.
in 1973 with an A.B.
At Cornell, he was a member of the Quill and Dagger
society. He earned his J.D.
from Yale Law School
in 1976. After completing law school, Kronstadt served as a law clerk
for Judge William P. Gray of the United States District Court for the Central District of California.
Gray Davis
appointed Kronstadt to the Los Angeles County Superior Court. He replaced Judge Juelann Cathey, who had retired earlier that year following major heart surgery.
While a Superior Court judge, Kronstadt presided over the case to determine rightful ownership of the Bahia Emerald
, an 840-pound gemstone that has previously been valued at $372 million.
On November 17, 2010, President Barack Obama
nominated Kronstadt to a judgeship on the United States District Court for the Central District of California
to fill the vacancy created by the death of Florence-Marie Cooper
. On April 12, 2011, the Senate voted 96-0 to confirm his nomination. Kronsadt received his judicial commission two days later.
United States District Court for the Central District of California
The United States District Court for the Central District of California serves over 18 million people in southern and central California, making it the largest federal judicial district by population...
. On April 12, 2011, the Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
voted 96-0 to confirm Kronstadt. He received his judicial commission on April 14, 2011.
Early life and education
Kronstadt was born in 1951 in Washington, D.C. He graduated from Cornell UniversityCornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in 1973 with an A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
At Cornell, he was a member of the Quill and Dagger
Quill and Dagger
Quill and Dagger is a senior honor society at Cornell University. It is often recognized as one of the most prominent collegiate societies of its type, along with Skull and Bones of Yale University...
society. He earned his J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
in 1976. After completing law school, Kronstadt served as a law clerk
Law clerk
A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Law clerks are not court clerks or courtroom deputies, who are administrative staff for the court. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who...
for Judge William P. Gray of the United States District Court for the Central District of California.
Judicial service
In October 2002, California GovernorGovernor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
Gray Davis
Gray Davis
Joseph Graham "Gray" Davis, Jr. is an American Democratic politician who served as California's 37th Governor from 1999 until being recalled in 2003...
appointed Kronstadt to the Los Angeles County Superior Court. He replaced Judge Juelann Cathey, who had retired earlier that year following major heart surgery.
While a Superior Court judge, Kronstadt presided over the case to determine rightful ownership of the Bahia Emerald
Bahia Emerald
The Bahia Emerald is one of the largest emeralds and contains the largest single shard ever found. The approximately Brazilian stone narrowly escaped flooding during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 during a period of storage in a warehouse in New Orleans...
, an 840-pound gemstone that has previously been valued at $372 million.
On November 17, 2010, President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
nominated Kronstadt to a judgeship on the United States District Court for the Central District of California
United States District Court for the Central District of California
The United States District Court for the Central District of California serves over 18 million people in southern and central California, making it the largest federal judicial district by population...
to fill the vacancy created by the death of Florence-Marie Cooper
Florence-Marie Cooper
Florence-Marie Cooper was a United States federal judge.-Early life and education:Cooper was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and moved to San Francisco with her family in 1952. Cooper graduated from high school in 1958 and began working as a legal secretary...
. On April 12, 2011, the Senate voted 96-0 to confirm his nomination. Kronsadt received his judicial commission two days later.