---
title: "Consuelo Maria Callahan | KnowJudges"
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# Consuelo Maria Callahan

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · U.S. Circuit Judge

## Profile

- Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- State: National federal courts
- Role: U.S. Circuit Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-25

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge, Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2003-present
- Consuelo María Callahan is an American judge serving on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, appointed by President George W. Bush in 2003
- She became Commissioner of the Stockton Municipal Court in 1986, was the first Hispanic woman appointed to the San Joaquin County Superior Court in 1992, and held the role of Associate Justice on the Third District California Court of Appeal from 1996 until 2003
- supervisory district attorney, 1982-1986
- Office of the District Attorney, San Joaquin County, CA, 1976-1986
- Her legal career began as Deputy City Attorney for Stockton, CA, followed by service as Deputy District Attorney in San Joaquin County (1976–1986)
- deputy district attorney, 1976-1982
- The first judge from San Joaquin County to serve on the federal bench

### Education

- J.D. from the McGeorge School of Law at the University of the Pacific in 1975, and later received an LL.M. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2004.
- Stanford University — B.A. (1972)

### Additional information

- On February 12, 2003, President Bush nominated her to the Ninth Circuit, succeeding Ferdinand Fernandez.
- received her judicial commission on May 28, 2003.
- Deputy city attorney, Stockton, CA, 1975-1976
- Callahan grew up in Fremont and Los Altos, California, and graduated cum laude in English from Stanford University in 1972.
- Born 1950 in Palo Alto, California.
- Date of birth: 1950-06-09
- Mission San Jose High School
- Birth place: Palo Alto, CA

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### appellate oral argument

Scope: courtwide

In federal courts of appeals, oral argument is allowed unless a three-judge panel unanimously finds one of Rule 34's specified grounds for dispensing with it; the clerk provides the date, time, place, and time allocation.

Evidence excerpt: Oral argument must be allowed in every case unless a panel of three judges who have examined the briefs and record unanimously agrees that oral argument is unnecessary

[Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-appellate-procedure)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391846)
- [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391846)
- [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391846)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/512/consuelo-maria-callahan/)
- [Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-appellate-procedure)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/512/consuelo-maria-callahan/)
- [Wikidata: Consuelo María Callahan](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5164531)

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