Roger T. Benitez at a glance
- Current role
- Former U.S. District Judge
- Jurisdiction
- California · Federal
- Judicial service
- Former
Roger T. Benitez
Former U.S. District Judge · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
Service record and verification
Judicial service and assignments
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California · U.S. District Judge · Former · June 21, 2004–Former · Assignment source ↗
Appointment and verification
- Source authority
- CourtListener / Free Law Project
Biography
Professional career
- Judge, District Court, S.D. California, 2004-present
- Roger Thomas Benitez is a former United States District Judge for the Southern District of California, appointed by President George W. Bush in 2004 and serving until his retirement in April 2026
- U.S. Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court, Southern District of California, 2001-2004
- Judge, Superior Court of California, County of Imperial, 1997-2001
- Private practice, Imperial County, CA, 1978-1997
- Roger Thomas Benitez is a former United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California
Education
- San Diego State University — B.A. (1974)
- A.A. — San Diego State University-Imperial Valley Campus — 1971
- Western State College of Law
Additional information
- Revered by some as “Saint Benitez” in pro–Second Amendment circles, he also faced criticism, notably for a 2023 incident involving the shackling of a minor.
- Instructor, Imperial Valley College, 1998-1999
- Born December 30, 1950.
- Date of birth: 1950-01-01
- A Cuban immigrant and participant in Operation Peter Pan, he became known for striking down several California gun control laws and controversial rulings, including cases on assault weapons, large-capacity magazines, and school transgender policies.
- He presided over high-profile multidistrict, class action, patent, and constitutional cases, and now works as a mediator and arbitrator for ADR Services, Inc.
- Thomas Jefferson School of Law
- Birth place: Havana, Cuba
Sources
Identity source checked June 30, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 2, 2026.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California current judicial profile
Identity source · HTML · CourtListener / Free Law Project · effective June 21, 2004 · Source checked August 2, 2026
View U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California current judicial profile ↗