William Schwarzer
Encyclopedia
William W. Schwarzer is a United States federal judge
serving on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Born in Berlin, Germany, Schwarzer served in the United States Army
during World War II
, beginning in 1943. He attained the rank of Second Lietuenant, and was discharged in 1947. He received an A.B. (cum laude) at the University of Southern California
in 1948, and an L.L.B. with honors from Harvard Law School
in 1951, where he was a member of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau
, and where he also served as a teaching fellow from 1951 to 1952.
He entered private practice in San Francisco, California
in 1952 as an associate at McCutchen, Doyle, Brown & Enersen (now Bingham McCutchen
). He became a partner at the firm in 1960 and continued with McCutchen until his appointment to the federal bench in 1976. He served as senior counsel to the President's Commission on CIA Activities within the United States (better known as the Rockefeller Commission
) in 1975.
On June 2, 1976, Schwarzer was nominated by President Gerald Ford
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of California
vacated by Albert C. Wollenberg. Schwarzer was confirmed by the United States Senate
on July 23, 1976, and received his commission the same day. In 1986, Schwarzer worked with Rod McManigal to tighten up Schwarzer's libretto to Galileo, a Grove Play performed at the Bohemian Grove
. Schwarzer joined the Bohemian Club
in 1979.
He also presided over a lawsuit filed by Apple Computer
against Microsoft
, in which Apple alleged that Microsoft used some Apple features in Windows
Version 2.03, and later 3.0. On January 5, 1989, Schwarzer dropped all but 10 of the 189 claims that Apple brought against Microsoft. He assumed senior status
on April 30, 1991, and also served as the director of the Federal Judicial Center
from 1990 to 1995.
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....
serving on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Born in Berlin, Germany, Schwarzer served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, beginning in 1943. He attained the rank of Second Lietuenant, and was discharged in 1947. He received an A.B. (cum laude) at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
in 1948, and an L.L.B. with honors from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in 1951, where he was a member of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau
Harvard Legal Aid Bureau
The Harvard Legal Aid Bureau is the oldest student-run legal services office in the country, founded in 1913. Located at 23 Everett Street in Cambridge, MA, the Bureau's mission is to provide an important community service while giving student attorneys the opportunity to develop professional...
, and where he also served as a teaching fellow from 1951 to 1952.
He entered private practice in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
in 1952 as an associate at McCutchen, Doyle, Brown & Enersen (now Bingham McCutchen
Bingham McCutchen
Bingham McCutchen LLP is a global law firm with approximately 1,100 attorneys in nine US offices and four international offices. It represents clients in corporate litigation, cross-border restructurings and insolvencies, financing and securities, structured finance and capital markets, government...
). He became a partner at the firm in 1960 and continued with McCutchen until his appointment to the federal bench in 1976. He served as senior counsel to the President's Commission on CIA Activities within the United States (better known as the Rockefeller Commission
United States President's Commission on CIA activities within the United States
The U.S. President's Commission on CIA activities within the United States was set up under President Gerald Ford in 1975 to investigate the activities of the Central Intelligence Agency and other intelligence agencies within the United States...
) in 1975.
On June 2, 1976, Schwarzer was nominated by President Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of California
United States District Court for the Northern District of California
The United States District Court for the Northern District of California is the federal United States district court whose jurisdiction comprises following counties of California: Alameda, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, San...
vacated by Albert C. Wollenberg. Schwarzer 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 July 23, 1976, and received his commission the same day. In 1986, Schwarzer worked with Rod McManigal to tighten up Schwarzer's libretto to Galileo, a Grove Play performed at the Bohemian Grove
Bohemian Grove
Bohemian Grove is a campground located at 20601 Bohemian Avenue, in Monte Rio, California, belonging to a private San Francisco-based men's art club known as the Bohemian Club...
. Schwarzer joined the Bohemian Club
Bohemian Club
The Bohemian Club is a private men's club in San Francisco, California, United States.Its clubhouse is located at 624 Taylor Street in San Francisco...
in 1979.
He also presided over a lawsuit filed by Apple Computer
Apple Computer
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad...
against Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
, in which Apple alleged that Microsoft used some Apple features in Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
Version 2.03, and later 3.0. On January 5, 1989, Schwarzer dropped all but 10 of the 189 claims that Apple brought against Microsoft. He 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 April 30, 1991, and also served as the director of the Federal Judicial Center
Federal Judicial Center
The Federal Judicial Center is the education and research agency of the United States federal courts. It was established by an Act of Congress in 1967, at the recommendation of the Judicial Conference of the United States....
from 1990 to 1995.