Thomas J. Whelan (judge)

Thomas J. Whelan
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California
Incumbent
Assumed office August 15, 2010
Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California
In office October 22, 1998 – August 15, 2010
Appointed by	Bill Clinton
Preceded by	John Skylstead Rhoades, Sr.
Succeeded by	Gonzalo P. Curiel
Judge of the Superior Court of California, San Diego County
In office 1990–1998
Personal details
Born	1940 (age 84–85) San Diego, California, U.S.
Alma mater	University of San Diego

Thomas J. Whelan (born 1940) is a Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California.

Early life and education

Born in San Diego, California, Whelan received a B.A. from the University of San Diego in 1961 and a J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1965.

Career

Whelan was a Contracts administrator, planner, and estimator, for General Dynamics Corp. from 1961 to 1969. He was a Deputy district attorney of San Diego, CA from 1969 to 1989.

Judicial service

Whelan was a judge on the Superior Court of California, San Diego County, CA from 1990 to 1998. As a superior court judge, Whelan presided over the infamous Betty Broderick trials in San Diego.

Whelan was a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. Whelan was nominated by President Bill Clinton on June 4, 1998, to a seat vacated by John S. Rhoades. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 21, 1998, and received his commission on October 22, 1998. He assumed senior status on August 15, 2010.

Sources

• Thomas J. Whelan at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.