Irma Elsa Gonzalez

Irma Elsa Gonzalez


Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California
In office March 29, 2013 – October 25, 2013
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California
In office 2005–2012
Preceded by	Marilyn L. Huff
Succeeded by	Barry Ted Moskowitz
Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California
In office August 12, 1992 – March 29, 2013
Appointed by	George H. W. Bush
Preceded by	J. Lawrence Irving
Succeeded by	Cynthia Ann Bashant
Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California
In office 1984–1991

Personal details
Born	(1948-03-29) March 29, 1948 (age 70) Palo Alto, California
Education	Stanford University (B.A.) James E. Rogers College of Law (J.D.)

Irma Elsa Gonzalez (born March 29, 1948) is a retired United States federal judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, who was the first Mexican-American female federal judge. She is married to former federal prosecutor and trial attorney Robert S. Brewer.

Born in Palo Alto, California, Gonzalez completed a Bachelor of Arts degree at Stanford University in 1970, and a Juris Doctor at the University of Arizona College of Law (now known as the James E. Rogers College of Law) in 1973. She clerked for Judge William Frey of the United States District Court for the District of Arizona from 1973 to 1975. Gonzalez worked as an Assistant United States Attorney for the United States Attorney for Arizona from 1975 to 1979, and then for the Central District of California from 1979 to 1981. She was in private practice in San Diego from 1981 to 1984.