Mariana Pfaelzer

Mariana R. Pfaelzer (February 4, 1926 – May 14, 2015) was a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

Mariana R. Pfaelzer
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of California
In office December 31, 1997 – May 14, 2015
Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of California
In office September 23, 1978 – December 31, 1997
Appointed by	Jimmy Carter
Preceded by	Francis C. Whelan
Succeeded by	Nora Margaret Manella
Personal details
Born	February 4, 1926 Los Angeles, California
Died	May 14, 2015 (aged 89) Los Angeles, California
Education	University of California, Santa Barbara (AB) UCLA School of Law (JD)

Education and career

Born to a Jewish family in Los Angeles , California in 1926,[1] Pfaelzer received an Artium Baccalaureus degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1949 and a Juris Doctor from the UCLA School of Law in 1957. She was in private practice in Los Angeles from 1957 to 1978.[2]

Federal judicial service

On August 8, 1978, Pfaelzer was nominated by President Jimmy Carter to a seat on the United States District Court for the Central District of California vacated by Judge Francis C. Whelan. She was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 22, 1978, and received her commission the next day. She was the first female federal judge appointed to the district. She assumed senior status on December 31, 1997, serving in that status until her death.[2]

Notable cases

She is noted for her role in striking down California's Proposition 187, which would have denied services to undocumented immigrants in California.[3] Pfaelzer handed down a $600 million judgment against Countrywide Financial.[4]

Death and tributes

On May 14, 2015, Pfaelzer died in Los Angeles after serving on the federal bench for nearly 40 years.[5] George H. King, the Chief District Court Judge for the Central District of California, noted that she "was the epitome of what a federal judge ought to be . . . presi[ding] with brilliance, analytical rigor, practicality, wisdom, grace and courage."[6]

Personal

Pfaelzer was married to Frank Rothman, an attorney who died in 2000.[7]

References

1. Judges of the United States. 1983. p. 390. duh
2. Mariana R. Pfaelzer at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
3. "CA's Anti-Immigrant Proposition 187 is Voided, Ending State's Five-Year Battle with ACLU, Rights Groups".
4. NationalMortgageProfessional.com (3 August 2010). "Countrywide settles suits with $600 million-plus record payout".
5. Egelko, Bob (1 June 2015). "Mariana Pfaelzer, judge who threw out anti-immigrant law, dies". sfgate.com. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
6. "Passing of the Honorable Mariana R. Pfaelzer". United States District Judge Central District of California Press Release. May 15, 2015.
7. Pollack, Andrew (27 April 2000). "Frank Rothman Is Dead at 73; Lawyer Defended the N.F.L." The New York Times. Retrieved 31 March 2016. He is survived by his wife, Mariana Pfaelzer, a United States district judge in Los Angeles...

Sources

• Mariana R. Pfaelzer at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.