Judith Keep
Encyclopedia
Judith Nelsen Keep was a judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California
.
, young Judith Keep went to college in California
. In 1966, she received her B.A. degree
in Humanities and Literature from Scripps College
in Claremont, California
. After graduation, she moved to San Diego and taught English at the Bishop's School
in La Jolla. She then enrolled at the University of San Diego School of Law
, where she received her J.D. degree
in 1970, graduating summa cum laude.
of California
by President Jimmy Carter
, Judge Keep became a federal judge
in 1980. She was the first female federal judge in her district and later became its first female chief, serving from 1991 to 1998. Keep chaired the Conference of Chief District Judges in 1997.
As a member of the Judicial Conference of the United States
(JCUS), Judge Keep represented the Ninth Circuit District Judges at the JCUS from 1999-2002. She also was appointed by Chief Justice William Rehnquist
to the Defender Services Committee of the JCUS in 1998 and served through 2004. Her court handled many drug and immigrant smuggling cases.
Judge Keep made a significant contribution to court governance as a member of the Judicial Council of the Ninth Circuit for eight years. She first represented the chief district judges from 1994 to 1997. Her service to the council continued as president of the District Judges Association from 1997 to 1999, and then as the district judges’ representative to the JCUS from 1999 to 2002.
Other service to the Ninth Circuit included chairing the Task Force on Judicial Wellness, which paved the way for groundbreaking efforts to promote health and wellness among judges, and the Federal Court Study Committee.
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...
.
Early life and education
Born March 24, 1944, Omaha, NebraskaOmaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
, young Judith Keep went to college in 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...
. In 1966, she received her B.A. degree
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...
in Humanities and Literature from Scripps College
Scripps College
Scripps College is a progressive liberal arts women's college in Claremont, California, United States. It is a member of the Claremont Colleges. Scripps ranks 3rd for the nation's best women's college, ahead of Barnard College, Mount Holyoke College, and Bryn Mawr College at 23rd on the list for...
in Claremont, California
Claremont, California
Claremont is a small affluent college town in eastern Los Angeles County, California, United States, about east of downtown Los Angeles at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. The population as of the 2010 census is 34,926. Claremont is known for its seven higher-education institutions, its...
. After graduation, she moved to San Diego and taught English at the Bishop's School
The Bishop's School (La Jolla, California)
The Bishop's School is an independent college preparatory Episcopalian day school located at 7607 La Jolla Boulevard in La Jolla, a community of San Diego...
in La Jolla. She then enrolled at the University of San Diego School of Law
University of San Diego School of Law
The University of San Diego School of Law, commonly referred to as USD Law, is a law school located on the campus of the University of San Diego in San Diego, California in the community of Linda Vista. Founded in 1954, the law school has held ABA approval since 1961...
, where she received her J.D. degree
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...
in 1970, graduating summa cum laude.
Professional career
After her graduation from law school, Keep served as a Municipal Court Judge in San Diego from 1976 to 1980, in private practice from 1973 to 1976, and as a staff attorney for Defenders, Inc. from 1971 to 1973. In the 1970s, Keep organized a casual group with other female attorneys called the Old Girls Club.Federal judicial service
Nominated to the bench of the United States District Court for the Southern District of CaliforniaUnited 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...
of 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...
by 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...
, Judge Keep became a federal judge
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....
in 1980. She was the first female federal judge in her district and later became its first female chief, serving from 1991 to 1998. Keep chaired the Conference of Chief District Judges in 1997.
As a member of the Judicial Conference of the United States
Judicial Conference of the United States
The Judicial Conference of the United States, formerly known as Conference of Senior Circuit Judges, was created by the United States Congress in 1922 with the principal objective of framing policy guidelines for administration of judicial courts in the United States...
(JCUS), Judge Keep represented the Ninth Circuit District Judges at the JCUS from 1999-2002. She also was appointed by Chief Justice William Rehnquist
William Rehnquist
William Hubbs Rehnquist was an American lawyer, jurist, and political figure who served as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States and later as the 16th Chief Justice of the United States...
to the Defender Services Committee of the JCUS in 1998 and served through 2004. Her court handled many drug and immigrant smuggling cases.
Judge Keep made a significant contribution to court governance as a member of the Judicial Council of the Ninth Circuit for eight years. She first represented the chief district judges from 1994 to 1997. Her service to the council continued as president of the District Judges Association from 1997 to 1999, and then as the district judges’ representative to the JCUS from 1999 to 2002.
Other service to the Ninth Circuit included chairing the Task Force on Judicial Wellness, which paved the way for groundbreaking efforts to promote health and wellness among judges, and the Federal Court Study Committee.