---
title: "Alexander F. MacKinnon | KnowJudges"
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---

# Alexander F. MacKinnon

U.S. District Court for the Central District of California · U.S. Magistrate Judge

## Profile

- Court: U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
- State: California
- Role: U.S. Magistrate Judge
- Service status: former
- Last verified: 2026-06-30

## Biography

### Professional career

- U.S. Magistrate Judge, Central District of California (2015–2023)
- United States Magistrate Judge for the Central District of California, appointed in 2015 and retired in 2023, with a career spanning over 30 years in intellectual property and other federal trial practice
- Appointment: Sworn in on July 20, 2015 by the judges of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, succeeding retired Magistrate Judge Victor B. Kenton
- He first joined the firm in 1982 as an associate, later becoming a partner
- Before joining the federal judiciary, MacKinnon was a partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP for over 30 years, specializing in intellectual property litigation as well as antitrust, securities, product liability, and environmental cases

### Education



### Additional information

- Retirement: Left the bench in 2023
- Term: Served on a renewable eight‐year term as a U.S. Magistrate Judge
- Recognized as one of California’s Top Intellectual Property Litigators during his private practice
- Appointed as United States Magistrate Judge for the Central District of California | Central District of California | United States District Court The United States District Court for the Central District of California announces the appointment of Alexander F. MacKinnon as United States Magistrate Judge
- handling civil matters in Los Angeles and other counties in the Central District
- His judicial service covered the Central District of California, which includes Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties

## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9055/alexander-f-mackinnon/)
- [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9055/alexander-f-mackinnon/)
- [U.S. District Court for the Central District of California current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9055/alexander-f-mackinnon/)
- [Official July31,2023 appointment notice calls MacKinnon former magistrate judge and Richlin his successor. No retirement/death assertion.](https://www.cacd.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2023-07-31%20Press%20Release%20-%20Judge%20Richlin.pdf)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9055/alexander-f-mackinnon/)
- [Alexander F. MacKinnon Appointed as United States Magistrate Judge for the Central District of California | Central District of California | United States District Court](https://www.cacd.uscourts.gov/news/alexander-f-mackinnon-appointed-united-states-magistrate-judge-central-district-california)

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