Mariana Pfaelzer
Encyclopedia
Mariana R. Pfaelzer is a United States federal judge
.
Born in Los Angeles, California
, Pfaelzer received an A.B.
from the University of California, Santa Barbara
in 1949 and a J.D.
from the UCLA School of Law
in 1957. She was in private practice in Los Angeles, California
from 1957 to 1978.
On August 8, 1978, Pfaelzer was nominated by President Jimmy Carter
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Central District of California
vacated by Francis C. Whelan
. She was confirmed by the United States Senate
on September 22, 1978, and received commission the next day. She was the first female District Judge appointed to that District. She assumed senior status
on December 31, 1997.
She is noted for her role in striking down California
's Proposition 187, which would have denied services to illegal aliens
. More recently, Judge Pfaelzer handed down a $600 million judgment against Countrywide Financial
.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Born in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, Pfaelzer received 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...
from the University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara, commonly known as UCSB or UC Santa Barbara, is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of California system. The main campus is located on a site in Goleta, California, from Santa Barbara and northwest of Los...
in 1949 and a 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 the UCLA School of Law
UCLA School of Law
The UCLA School of Law is the law school of the University of California, Los Angeles. It has been approved by the American Bar Association since 1950. It joined the Association of American Law Schools in 1952.- History :...
in 1957. She was in private practice in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
from 1957 to 1978.
On August 8, 1978, Pfaelzer was nominated by President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
to a seat 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...
vacated by Francis C. Whelan
Francis C. Whelan
Francis C. Whelan was a United States federal judge.Born in O'Neill, Nebraska, Whelan received a B.A. from San Diego State University in 1928 and both an LL.B and a J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law in 1932. He was in private practice in San Diego,...
. She was confirmed by the United States 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...
on September 22, 1978, and received commission the next day. She was the first female District Judge appointed to that District. She assumed senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on December 31, 1997.
She is noted for her role in striking down California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
's Proposition 187, which would have denied services to illegal aliens
Illegal Aliens
Illegal Aliens is a 2007 film starring Anna Nicole Smith and Joanie Laurer. This comedy/science-fiction film is made in the mold of classic 1980s B-movies. Hitting stores on May 1, 2007, the release of the movie was pushed back following the death of Smith in February 2007 and it is her final film...
. More recently, Judge Pfaelzer handed down a $600 million judgment against Countrywide Financial
Countrywide Financial
Bank of America Home Loans is the mortgage unit of Bank of America. Bank of America Home Loans is composed of:*Mortgage Banking, which originates purchases, securitizes, and services mortgages. In 2008, Bank of America purchased the failing Countrywide Financial for $4.1 billion...
.