Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today announced the confirmation of Magistrate Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo of San Diego to serve on the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. 

Judge Bencivengo, who was nominated by President Obama on the recommendation of Senator Feinstein, was confirmed by an overwhelming 90-6 vote.  Bencivengo replaces Jeffrey T. Miller who retired.

“I was pleased to recommend Magistrate Judge Bencivengo to the President for nomination to the District Court.  Since 2005, she has served as a serious, thoughtful jurist.  I am confident that Judge Bencivengo’s respected judicial temperament, as well as her valuable experience as an intellectual property lawyer for over 15 years, will enable her to serve the Southern District well as a U.S. District Judge,” said Feinstein on the Senate floor before today’s vote.. 

Judge Bencivengo fills a judicial emergency vacancy in a district along the southwest border, including San Diego and Imperial Counties with one of the highest and most rapidly-increasing criminal caseloads in the country. 

Bordering Mexico, the Southern District of California has a large immigration caseload and ranks fourth in the country in terms of criminal case filings per authorized judgeship. 

Judge Bencivengo has served as a Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of California since 2005.  Prior to joining the bench, she spent her entire legal career at the law firm now known as DLA Piper US, LLP, beginning as a litigation associate in 1988 and becoming a partner in 1996.  Judge Bencivengo received her J.D. magna cum laude in 1988 from University of Michigan Law School and both her M.A. in 1981 and her B.A. in 1980 from Rutgers University.

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