Lawrence K. Karlton
Encyclopedia
Lawrence K. Karlton is a United States federal judge
.
Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1935, Karlton received a J.D.
from Columbia Law School
in 1958, at the age of 23. He was in the United States Army
from 1958 to 1960, and was a Civilian legal officer at the Sacramento Army Depot from 1960 to 1962. He was in private practice in Sacramento, California
from 1962 to 1976, and also litigated civil liberties cases as a volunteer lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union
. He was appointed by California Governor Jerry Brown
as a judge of the Superior Court of California, where he served from 1976 to 1979.
On June 5, 1979, President Jimmy Carter
nominated Karlton to a seat vacated by Thomas J. MacBride on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California
. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on July 23, 1979, and received his commission on July 24, 1979. He served as Chief Judge from 1983–1990, and as Chief Judge Emeritus until assuming senior status
on May 28, 2000. Karlton is known as an outspoken liberal, and many of his clerks go on to work in public interest law.
Karlton, along with Judges Stephen Reinhardt and Thelton Henderson, is a member of a special three-judge panel overseeing overcrowding in the California prison system.
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 Brooklyn, New York in 1935, Karlton received a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
in 1958, at the age of 23. He was in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from 1958 to 1960, and was a Civilian legal officer at the Sacramento Army Depot from 1960 to 1962. He was in private practice in Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
from 1962 to 1976, and also litigated civil liberties cases as a volunteer lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
. He was appointed by California Governor Jerry Brown
Jerry Brown
Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr. is an American politician. Brown served as the 34th Governor of California , and is currently serving as the 39th California Governor...
as a judge of the Superior Court of California, where he served from 1976 to 1979.
On June 5, 1979, President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
nominated Karlton to a seat vacated by Thomas J. MacBride on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California
United States District Court for the Eastern District of California
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California is composed of six divisions.The Bakersfield division has jurisdiction over certain cases in Inyo and Kern counties and on federal lands and National Parks...
. 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 July 23, 1979, and received his commission on July 24, 1979. He served as Chief Judge from 1983–1990, and as Chief Judge Emeritus until assuming 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 May 28, 2000. Karlton is known as an outspoken liberal, and many of his clerks go on to work in public interest law.
Karlton, along with Judges Stephen Reinhardt and Thelton Henderson, is a member of a special three-judge panel overseeing overcrowding in the California prison system.