John Clifford Wallace
Encyclopedia
John Clifford Wallace is a United States federal judge
.
Born in San Diego, California
, Wallace received a B.A.
from San Diego State University
in 1952, and an LL.B. from University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law in 1955. He served in the United States Navy
as a Second Class Petty Officer from 1946 to 1949. He was in private practice in San Diego from 1955 to 1970, at the law firm of Gray Carey Ames & Frye.
Wallace served as a federal trial-court judge on the United States District Court for the Southern District of California
, having been nominated by President Richard Nixon
on October 7, 1970, to a new seat created by 84 Stat. 294. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on October 13, 1970, and received his commission on October 16, 1970.
Wallace was subsequently nominated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
by President Nixon on May 22, 1972, to a seat vacated by the Honorable James Marshall Carter
. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 28, 1972, and received his commission the same day. Wallace served as Chief Judge of the Ninth Circuit from 1991 to 1996. He assumed senior status
on April 8, 1996. As a senior judge, Wallace has a reduced caseload, but he continues to hear cases in the Ninth Circuit, and he sits by designation from time to time as a visiting judge on other federal appellate courts.
Throughout his career as an appellate judge, Wallace has been deeply interested in developing strong judicial systems around the world. Judge Wallace's support for the "rule of law" movement, which seeks to impart the concepts and ideals of an independent judiciary and impartial judicial system, dates to 1972, when he began using personal vacation time to visit judiciaries overseas. After taking senior status
, he began to spend about half his time on the effort. In all, he has worked directly with judiciaries in more than 50 countries and on every continent. Judge Wallace also serves on the Asia Council of the American Bar Association
Rule of Law Initiative
.
The American Judicature Society honored Wallace with its 24th Annual Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award. The award is one recognizing "significant contributions to the administration of justice, the advancement of the rule of law, and the improvement of society as a whole", and was formally presented to Judge Wallace by U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy in ceremonies at San Diego's Spreckles Theater on October 19, 2006.
A devout Mormon, Judge Wallace has been active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
, serving in local and regional governing posts. Judge Wallace also has long supported the Boy Scouts of America, serving on the local chapter's board of directors and executive committee from 1977 to 1993.
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United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Born in San Diego, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Wallace received a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
in 1952, and an LL.B. from University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law in 1955. He served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
as a Second Class Petty Officer from 1946 to 1949. He was in private practice in San Diego from 1955 to 1970, at the law firm of Gray Carey Ames & Frye.
Wallace served as a federal trial-court judge on the United States District Court for the Southern District of California
United States District Court for the Southern District of California
The United States District Court for the Southern District of California is the federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the following counties in California: Imperial and San Diego. In terms of filed indictments, it is one of the busiest criminal districts in the United States...
, having been nominated by President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
on October 7, 1970, to a new seat created by 84 Stat. 294. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on October 13, 1970, and received his commission on October 16, 1970.
Wallace was subsequently nominated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is a U.S. federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* District of Alaska* District of Arizona...
by President Nixon on May 22, 1972, to a seat vacated by the Honorable James Marshall Carter
James Marshall Carter
James Marshall Carter was a United States federal judge.Born in Santa Barbara, California, Carter received an A.B. from Pomona College in 1924 and a J.D. from the University of Southern California Law School in 1927. He was in private practice in Los Angeles, California from 1928 to 1940...
. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 28, 1972, and received his commission the same day. Wallace served as Chief Judge of the Ninth Circuit from 1991 to 1996. He assumed senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on April 8, 1996. As a senior judge, Wallace has a reduced caseload, but he continues to hear cases in the Ninth Circuit, and he sits by designation from time to time as a visiting judge on other federal appellate courts.
Throughout his career as an appellate judge, Wallace has been deeply interested in developing strong judicial systems around the world. Judge Wallace's support for the "rule of law" movement, which seeks to impart the concepts and ideals of an independent judiciary and impartial judicial system, dates to 1972, when he began using personal vacation time to visit judiciaries overseas. After taking senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
, he began to spend about half his time on the effort. In all, he has worked directly with judiciaries in more than 50 countries and on every continent. Judge Wallace also serves on the Asia Council of the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
Rule of Law Initiative
ABA Rule of Law Initiative
The ABA Rule of Law Initiative was established in 2007 by the American Bar Association to consolidate its five overseas rule of law programs, including the Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative , which was created in 1990 after the fall of the Berlin Wall...
.
The American Judicature Society honored Wallace with its 24th Annual Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award. The award is one recognizing "significant contributions to the administration of justice, the advancement of the rule of law, and the improvement of society as a whole", and was formally presented to Judge Wallace by U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy in ceremonies at San Diego's Spreckles Theater on October 19, 2006.
A devout Mormon, Judge Wallace has been active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints traces its current dispensation beginnings to Joseph Smith, Jr. on April 6, 1830 in Western New York. Initial converts were drawn to the church in part because of the newly published Book of Mormon, a self-described chronicle of indigenous American...
, serving in local and regional governing posts. Judge Wallace also has long supported the Boy Scouts of America, serving on the local chapter's board of directors and executive committee from 1977 to 1993.
Sources
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