Judge (ret.), Partner
litigation
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati PC
633 W 5th St Ste 1550
Los Angeles , CA 90071
Los Angeles , CA 90071
Phone:
(323) 210-2951
Law clerk, Hon. Alex Kozinski, 9th Circuit, 1994-95; law clerk, Hon. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, U.S. Supreme Court, 1995-96; private practice, Los Angeles, 1996-97, 2000-12; assistant U.S. attorney, Central District of California, 1997-2000; lecturer-in-law, USC, Gould School of Law, 2007-09; nominated October 2011, confirmed May 2012, retired May 2023; joined Wilson Sonsini, June 2023
UCLA Law School, 1994
Judicial Profiles
| Title | Court | Published |
|---|---|---|
| Paul J. Watford | 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (Pasadena) | Jan. 26, 2015 |
Rulings
| Case | Category | Published |
|---|---|---|
|
Kennedy Jr. v. Warren
author
|
Constitutional Law | May 4, 2023 |
|
Mejia Vega v. USCIS
author
|
Immigration | Apr. 14, 2023 |
|
Seaview Trading LLC v. Commisssioner of Internal Revenue
author
|
Tax | Mar. 10, 2023 |
|
O'Handley v. Weber
author
|
Constitutional Law | Mar. 10, 2023 |
|
U.S. v. Munoz
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jan. 11, 2023 |
|
D.R. v. Redondo Beach Unified School District
author
|
Education | Dec. 20, 2022 |
|
Clark v. Weber
author
|
Constitutional Law | Nov. 29, 2022 |
|
Hernandez v. City of Phoenix
author
|
Civil Rights | Aug. 5, 2022 |
|
Fauber v. Davis
dissenting
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Aug. 5, 2022 |
|
Amended Opinion: Sansing v. Ryan
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jul. 29, 2022 |
|
U.S. v. Irons
affirmed in part
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Apr. 12, 2022 |
|
Global Rescue Jets v. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan
author
|
Administrative Agencies | Apr. 11, 2022 |
|
Berman v. Freedom Financial Network
author
|
Arbitration | Apr. 6, 2022 |
|
Togonon v. Garland
author
|
Immigration | Jan. 11, 2022 |
|
Widjaja v. JPMorgan Chase Bank
author
|
Banking | Dec. 21, 2021 |
|
J.K.J. v. City of San Diego
dissenting
|
Civil Rights | Nov. 16, 2021 |
|
Upper Missouri Waterkeeper v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
author
|
Environmental Law | Oct. 7, 2021 |
|
Hawkins v. U.S.
author
|
Torts | Sep. 29, 2021 |
|
Diaz-Rodriguez v. Garland
author
|
Immigration | Sep. 13, 2021 |
|
Sisley v. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
concurring
|
Administrative Agencies | Aug. 31, 2021 |
|
Loyhayem v. Fraser Financial & Insurance Services
author
|
Consumer Law | Aug. 11, 2021 |
|
Sisto v. U.S.
concurring
|
Torts | Aug. 5, 2021 |
|
Sansing v. Ryan
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | May 18, 2021 |
|
U.S. v. Singh
dissenting
|
statutory_interpretation | May 4, 2021 |
|
SEIU Local 87 v. National Labor Relations Board
author
|
Administrative Agencies | Apr. 29, 2021 |
|
U.S. v. Ayala-Bello
concurring
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Apr. 27, 2021 |
|
Alvarado-Herrera v. Garland
author
|
Immigration | Apr. 14, 2021 |
|
Maine Community Health Options v. Albertsons Companies Inc.
concurring
|
Civil Procedure | Apr. 1, 2021 |
|
Rojas v. Federal Aviation Administration
author
|
statutory_interpretation | Mar. 3, 2021 |
|
Ward v. United Airlines
author
|
Labor Law | Feb. 3, 2021 |
|
Scalia v. State of Alaska
author
|
statutory_interpretation | Jan. 19, 2021 |
|
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau v. Seila Law
author
|
Constitutional Law | Dec. 30, 2020 |
|
Amended Opinion: U.S. v. Johnson
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Oct. 27, 2020 |
|
In re BofI Holding Inc. Securities Litigation
author
|
Securities | Oct. 9, 2020 |
|
Nanouk v. U.S.
author
|
Torts | Sep. 8, 2020 |
|
National Family Farm Coalition v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
dissenting
|
Environmental Law | Jul. 23, 2020 |
|
Seila Law LLC v. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
vacated and remanded
|
Constitutional Law | Jun. 30, 2020 |
|
Oman v. Delta Air Lines, Inc.
affirmed
|
Labor Law | Jun. 30, 2020 |
|
U.S. v. Johnson
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jun. 26, 2020 |
|
Liu v. Securities and Exchange Commission
vacated and remanded
|
Securities | Jun. 23, 2020 |
|
Mero v. Barr
author
|
Immigration | May 4, 2020 |
|
Peters v. Barr
author
|
Immigration | Apr. 3, 2020 |
|
Park v. City and County of Honolulu
author
|
Civil Rights | Mar. 16, 2020 |
|
Skidmore v. Led Zeppelin
concurring
|
Copyright | Mar. 10, 2020 |
|
Orn v. City of Tacoma
author
|
Civil Rights | Feb. 4, 2020 |
|
Morales v. Sherman
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jan. 31, 2020 |
|
The Democratic National Committee v. Hobbs
concurring
|
Civil Rights | Jan. 28, 2020 |
|
Tovar v. Zuchowski
dissenting
|
Immigration | Jan. 21, 2020 |
|
Silbaugh v. Chao
author
|
Civil Procedure | Nov. 15, 2019 |
|
National Resources Defense Council Inc. v. Perry
author
|
Administrative Agencies | Oct. 11, 2019 |
|
First Amendment Coalition v. Ryan
author
|
Constitutional Law | Sep. 18, 2019 |
|
U.S. v. Fitzgerald
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Aug. 27, 2019 |
|
U.S. v. Crum
dissenting
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Aug. 19, 2019 |
|
U.S. v. Nejad
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Aug. 14, 2019 |
|
Interior Glass Systems v. U.S.
author
|
Tax | Jun. 27, 2019 |
|
National Abortion Federation v. Center for Medical Progress
author
|
Civil Procedure | Jun. 6, 2019 |
|
City of Albany v. CH2M Hill
author
|
Civil Procedure | May 30, 2019 |
|
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau v. Seila Law
author
|
Constitutional Law | May 7, 2019 |
|
Grimm v. Vortex Marine Construction
concurring
|
Labor Law | Apr. 17, 2019 |
|
Baldwin v. United States
author
|
Tax | Apr. 17, 2019 |
|
U.S. v. Artis
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Mar. 29, 2019 |
|
EEOC v. Global Horizons
author
|
Employment Discrimination | Feb. 7, 2019 |
|
Harmoni International Spice v. Hume
author
|
International Law | Jan. 24, 2019 |
|
U.S. v. Johnson
concurring
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jan. 10, 2019 |
|
Sandoval v. City of Santa Rosa
author
|
Civil Rights | Dec. 24, 2018 |
|
Olivas-Motta v. Whitaker
dissenting
|
Immigration | Dec. 20, 2018 |
|
Kendrick v. Conduent State and Local Solutions
dissenting
|
Civil Procedure | Dec. 18, 2018 |
|
U.S. v. Kirkland
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Nov. 29, 2018 |
|
Williams v. Filson
author
|
Civil Procedure | Nov. 12, 2018 |
|
Bunker Holdings v. Yang Ming Liberia
author
|
Maritime Law | Oct. 12, 2018 |
|
U.S. v. Gonzalez
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Oct. 11, 2018 |
|
U.S. v. Lynch
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Sep. 14, 2018 |
|
Moore v. Urquhart
author
|
Constitutional Law | Aug. 17, 2018 |
|
Amended Opinion: U.S. v. Edling
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jul. 13, 2018 |
|
Amended Opinion: U.S. v. Kootswatewa
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jun. 28, 2018 |
|
U.S. v. Paul Swallow
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jun. 12, 2018 |
|
Quintero-Cisneros v. Sessions
author
|
Immigration | Jun. 12, 2018 |
|
U.S. v. Edling
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jun. 11, 2018 |
|
Miller v. Sessions
author
|
Immigration | May 9, 2018 |
|
U.S. v. County of Maricopa
author
|
Civil Rights | May 8, 2018 |
|
Rizo v. Yovino
concurring
|
Employment Law | Apr. 10, 2018 |
|
U.S. v. Kootswatewa
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Mar. 26, 2018 |
|
Amended Opinion: TDY Holdings LLC v. United States
dissenting
|
Environmental Law | Mar. 21, 2018 |
|
Amended Opinion: TDY Holdings LLC v. United States
concurring
|
Environmental Law | Mar. 8, 2018 |
|
Rentmeester v. Nike
author
|
Copyright | Feb. 28, 2018 |
|
Gomez-Velazco v. Sessions
author
|
Immigration | Jan. 11, 2018 |
|
Wellington v. Berryhill
dissenting
|
Administrative Agencies | Jan. 2, 2018 |
|
TDY Holdings LLC v. United States
concurring
|
Environmental Law | Oct. 5, 2017 |
|
U.S. v. Cervantes
author
|
Administrative Agencies | Jun. 19, 2017 |
| Title | Court | Published |
|---|---|---|
| Paul J. Watford | 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (Pasadena) | Jan. 26, 2015 |
| Case | Category | Published |
|---|---|---|
|
Kennedy Jr. v. Warren
author
|
Constitutional Law | May 4, 2023 |
|
Mejia Vega v. USCIS
author
|
Immigration | Apr. 14, 2023 |
|
Seaview Trading LLC v. Commisssioner of Internal Revenue
author
|
Tax | Mar. 10, 2023 |
|
O'Handley v. Weber
author
|
Constitutional Law | Mar. 10, 2023 |
|
U.S. v. Munoz
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jan. 11, 2023 |
|
D.R. v. Redondo Beach Unified School District
author
|
Education | Dec. 20, 2022 |
|
Clark v. Weber
author
|
Constitutional Law | Nov. 29, 2022 |
|
Hernandez v. City of Phoenix
author
|
Civil Rights | Aug. 5, 2022 |
|
Fauber v. Davis
dissenting
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Aug. 5, 2022 |
|
Amended Opinion: Sansing v. Ryan
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jul. 29, 2022 |
|
U.S. v. Irons
affirmed in part
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Apr. 12, 2022 |
|
Global Rescue Jets v. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan
author
|
Administrative Agencies | Apr. 11, 2022 |
|
Berman v. Freedom Financial Network
author
|
Arbitration | Apr. 6, 2022 |
|
Togonon v. Garland
author
|
Immigration | Jan. 11, 2022 |
|
Widjaja v. JPMorgan Chase Bank
author
|
Banking | Dec. 21, 2021 |
|
J.K.J. v. City of San Diego
dissenting
|
Civil Rights | Nov. 16, 2021 |
|
Upper Missouri Waterkeeper v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
author
|
Environmental Law | Oct. 7, 2021 |
|
Hawkins v. U.S.
author
|
Torts | Sep. 29, 2021 |
|
Diaz-Rodriguez v. Garland
author
|
Immigration | Sep. 13, 2021 |
|
Sisley v. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
concurring
|
Administrative Agencies | Aug. 31, 2021 |
|
Loyhayem v. Fraser Financial & Insurance Services
author
|
Consumer Law | Aug. 11, 2021 |
|
Sisto v. U.S.
concurring
|
Torts | Aug. 5, 2021 |
|
Sansing v. Ryan
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | May 18, 2021 |
|
U.S. v. Singh
dissenting
|
statutory_interpretation | May 4, 2021 |
|
SEIU Local 87 v. National Labor Relations Board
author
|
Administrative Agencies | Apr. 29, 2021 |
|
U.S. v. Ayala-Bello
concurring
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Apr. 27, 2021 |
|
Alvarado-Herrera v. Garland
author
|
Immigration | Apr. 14, 2021 |
|
Maine Community Health Options v. Albertsons Companies Inc.
concurring
|
Civil Procedure | Apr. 1, 2021 |
|
Rojas v. Federal Aviation Administration
author
|
statutory_interpretation | Mar. 3, 2021 |
|
Ward v. United Airlines
author
|
Labor Law | Feb. 3, 2021 |
|
Scalia v. State of Alaska
author
|
statutory_interpretation | Jan. 19, 2021 |
|
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau v. Seila Law
author
|
Constitutional Law | Dec. 30, 2020 |
|
Amended Opinion: U.S. v. Johnson
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Oct. 27, 2020 |
|
In re BofI Holding Inc. Securities Litigation
author
|
Securities | Oct. 9, 2020 |
|
Nanouk v. U.S.
author
|
Torts | Sep. 8, 2020 |
|
National Family Farm Coalition v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
dissenting
|
Environmental Law | Jul. 23, 2020 |
|
Seila Law LLC v. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
vacated and remanded
|
Constitutional Law | Jun. 30, 2020 |
|
Oman v. Delta Air Lines, Inc.
affirmed
|
Labor Law | Jun. 30, 2020 |
|
U.S. v. Johnson
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jun. 26, 2020 |
|
Liu v. Securities and Exchange Commission
vacated and remanded
|
Securities | Jun. 23, 2020 |
|
Mero v. Barr
author
|
Immigration | May 4, 2020 |
|
Peters v. Barr
author
|
Immigration | Apr. 3, 2020 |
|
Park v. City and County of Honolulu
author
|
Civil Rights | Mar. 16, 2020 |
|
Skidmore v. Led Zeppelin
concurring
|
Copyright | Mar. 10, 2020 |
|
Orn v. City of Tacoma
author
|
Civil Rights | Feb. 4, 2020 |
|
Morales v. Sherman
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jan. 31, 2020 |
|
The Democratic National Committee v. Hobbs
concurring
|
Civil Rights | Jan. 28, 2020 |
|
Tovar v. Zuchowski
dissenting
|
Immigration | Jan. 21, 2020 |
|
Silbaugh v. Chao
author
|
Civil Procedure | Nov. 15, 2019 |
|
National Resources Defense Council Inc. v. Perry
author
|
Administrative Agencies | Oct. 11, 2019 |
|
First Amendment Coalition v. Ryan
author
|
Constitutional Law | Sep. 18, 2019 |
|
U.S. v. Fitzgerald
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Aug. 27, 2019 |
|
U.S. v. Crum
dissenting
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Aug. 19, 2019 |
|
U.S. v. Nejad
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Aug. 14, 2019 |
|
Interior Glass Systems v. U.S.
author
|
Tax | Jun. 27, 2019 |
|
National Abortion Federation v. Center for Medical Progress
author
|
Civil Procedure | Jun. 6, 2019 |
|
City of Albany v. CH2M Hill
author
|
Civil Procedure | May 30, 2019 |
|
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau v. Seila Law
author
|
Constitutional Law | May 7, 2019 |
|
Grimm v. Vortex Marine Construction
concurring
|
Labor Law | Apr. 17, 2019 |
|
Baldwin v. United States
author
|
Tax | Apr. 17, 2019 |
|
U.S. v. Artis
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Mar. 29, 2019 |
|
EEOC v. Global Horizons
author
|
Employment Discrimination | Feb. 7, 2019 |
|
Harmoni International Spice v. Hume
author
|
International Law | Jan. 24, 2019 |
|
U.S. v. Johnson
concurring
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jan. 10, 2019 |
|
Sandoval v. City of Santa Rosa
author
|
Civil Rights | Dec. 24, 2018 |
|
Olivas-Motta v. Whitaker
dissenting
|
Immigration | Dec. 20, 2018 |
|
Kendrick v. Conduent State and Local Solutions
dissenting
|
Civil Procedure | Dec. 18, 2018 |
|
U.S. v. Kirkland
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Nov. 29, 2018 |
|
Williams v. Filson
author
|
Civil Procedure | Nov. 12, 2018 |
|
Bunker Holdings v. Yang Ming Liberia
author
|
Maritime Law | Oct. 12, 2018 |
|
U.S. v. Gonzalez
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Oct. 11, 2018 |
|
U.S. v. Lynch
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Sep. 14, 2018 |
|
Moore v. Urquhart
author
|
Constitutional Law | Aug. 17, 2018 |
|
Amended Opinion: U.S. v. Edling
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jul. 13, 2018 |
|
Amended Opinion: U.S. v. Kootswatewa
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jun. 28, 2018 |
|
U.S. v. Paul Swallow
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jun. 12, 2018 |
|
Quintero-Cisneros v. Sessions
author
|
Immigration | Jun. 12, 2018 |
|
U.S. v. Edling
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jun. 11, 2018 |
|
Miller v. Sessions
author
|
Immigration | May 9, 2018 |
|
U.S. v. County of Maricopa
author
|
Civil Rights | May 8, 2018 |
|
Rizo v. Yovino
concurring
|
Employment Law | Apr. 10, 2018 |
|
U.S. v. Kootswatewa
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Mar. 26, 2018 |
|
Amended Opinion: TDY Holdings LLC v. United States
dissenting
|
Environmental Law | Mar. 21, 2018 |
|
Amended Opinion: TDY Holdings LLC v. United States
concurring
|
Environmental Law | Mar. 8, 2018 |
|
Rentmeester v. Nike
author
|
Copyright | Feb. 28, 2018 |
|
Gomez-Velazco v. Sessions
author
|
Immigration | Jan. 11, 2018 |
|
Wellington v. Berryhill
dissenting
|
Administrative Agencies | Jan. 2, 2018 |
|
TDY Holdings LLC v. United States
concurring
|
Environmental Law | Oct. 5, 2017 |
|
U.S. v. Cervantes
author
|
Administrative Agencies | Jun. 19, 2017 |