Philip S. Gutierrez

Philip S. Gutierrez
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of California
In office June 26, 2020 – March 30, 2024
Preceded by	Cormac J. Carney
Succeeded by	Dolly Gee
Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of California
In office February 16, 2007 – October 22, 2024
Appointed by	George W. Bush
Preceded by	Terry J. Hatter Jr.
Succeeded by	Cynthia Valenzuela Dixon
Judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court
In office 1997–2007
Personal details
Born	Philip Steven Gutierrez (1959-10-13) October 13, 1959 (age 65) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Education	University of Notre Dame (BA) University of California, Los Angeles (JD)

Philip Steven Gutierrez (born October 13, 1959)[1] is an American lawyer who is a former United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

Early life and education

Gutierrez was born in Los Angeles. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1981 and a Juris Doctor from UCLA School of Law in 1984. Gutierrez was in private practice in California from 1986 to 1997. He is of Mexican American descent.[2]

Judicial service

Gutierrez was a judge on the Los Angeles County Superior Court from 1997 to 2007. On January 9, 2007, Gutierrez was nominated by President George W. Bush tp serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of California. He was nominated to a seat vacated by Judge Terry J. Hatter Jr. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 30, 2007, and received his commission on February 16, 2007.[3] He became chief judge on June 26, 2020,[4] after Cormac J. Carney ended his short tenure as chief judge following controversy. Gutierrez's term as chief judge ended on March 30, 2024.[5] He retired from active service on October 22, 2024.[3]

Xbox modding case

Gutierrez heard the trial of Xbox modding defendant Matthew Crippen, a DMCA related case. Gutierrez criticized the prosecution after the federal government brought witnesses that illegally recorded Crippen and admitted to previously modifying Xbox consoles themselves.[6] The government ultimately chose to dismiss the case, citing these issues with the witnesses presented in the early stages of the trial.[7]

See also

• List of Hispanic and Latino American jurists

References

1. Congress, U. S. (3 April 2017). Congressional Record, V. 153, PT. 2, January 18, 2007 to February 1, 2007. Government Printing Office. ISBN 9780160868252 – via Google Books.
2. "UC Davis School of Law - Career Services - job-resources - opportunities - mexican-american-bar-assoc-federal-judicial-externship-program". Archived from the original on 2019-09-02. Retrieved 2017-10-24.
3. Philip S. Gutierrez at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
4. "Judge Philip S. Gutierrez Succeeds Judge Cormac J. Carney as Chief Judge of the Central District of California" (Press release). United States District Court for the Central District of California. June 29, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
5. "Judge Dolly M. Gee Succeeds Judge Philip S. Gutierrez as Chief Judge of the Central District Of California". United States District Court for the Central District of California. April 1, 2024. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
6. Benedetti, Winda (2010-12-01). "Xbox modding trial on hold after judge berates prosecution". NBC News. Retrieved 2024-06-29.
7. Kravets, David. "Prosecutors Dismiss Xbox-Modding Case Mid-Trial". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2024-06-29.

External links

• Philip S. Gutierrez at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

Legal offices
Preceded by Terry J. Hatter Jr.	Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of California 2007–2024	Succeeded by Cynthia Valenzuela Dixon
Preceded by Cormac J. Carney	Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of California 2020–2024	Succeeded by Dolly Gee