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# Paul Jeffrey Watford

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: former
- Last verified: 2026-06-30

## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge, Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2012-present
- After resigning in 2023, Watford became a partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and later joined King & Spalding as a partner in its Business Litigation practice group.
- American lawyer who held the role of a United States Circuit Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from May 22, 2012, to May 31, 2023
- Also noted in 2016 by The New York Times as a potential Supreme Court nominee to replace Justice Antonin Scalia
- Paul J. Watford BIOGRAPHY Honorable Paul J. Watford Circuit Judge, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Pasadena, CA Judge Paul J. Watford was appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on May 22, 2012
- Assistant U.S. Attorney (Major Frauds Section, Central District of California) (1997–2000)
- Law clerk, Hon. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Supreme Court of the United States, 1995-1996
- Law clerk to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (U.S. Supreme Court) (1995–1996) — the only African American clerk Ginsburg hired during her tenure
- Law clerk, Hon. Alex Kozinski, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 1994-1995
- Law clerk to Judge Alex Kozinski (9th Cir.) (1994–1995)

### Education

- University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, Order of the Coif, UCLA Law Review editor — J.D. (1994)
- University of California, Berkeley — B.A. (1989)

### Additional information

- He resigned in 2023, succeeded by Ana de Alba.
- The Senate confirmed him 61–34 on May 21, 2012, and he was commissioned the next day.
- Private practice, Los Angeles, CA, 2000-2012
- Nominated by President Barack Obama on October 17, 2011, to replace Pamela Ann Rymer.
- Lecturer-in-law, University of Southern California, Gould School of Law, 2007-2009
- Teaching: Lecturer in law at USC Gould School of Law (2007–2009)
- Private practice, Los Angeles, CA, 1996-1997
- Born August 25, 1967, Garden Grove, California.
- Date of birth: 1967-01-01
- Sidley Austin)
- Laguna Beach High School
- In summary, Paul Jeffrey Watford is a distinguished jurist and litigator whose career spans high-profile judicial service, clerkships with notable judges, federal prosecution, private practice, and current appellate litigation work.
- He continues to focus on appellate, constitutional, administrative, antitrust, and commercial litigation.
- During his tenure, Watford authored numerous opinions covering areas such as arbitration, bankruptcy, class actions, constitutional law, copyright, and antitrust.
- Birth place: Garden Grove, CA

## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3385/paul-jeffrey-watford/)
- [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3385/paul-jeffrey-watford/)
- [Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3385/paul-jeffrey-watford/)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3385/paul-jeffrey-watford/)
- [Watford, Paul Jeffrey | Federal Judicial Center](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/watford-paul-jeffrey)
- [Honorable Paul J. Watford](https://www.nmid.uscourts.gov/sites/nmid/files/documents/districtconference/2013-dc-bio-watford.pdf)
- [Wikidata: Paul J. Watford](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7151519)

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