Judge Sherilyn P. Garnett: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

The Hon. Sherilyn P. Garnett is a District Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of California. She was nominated to the seat by President Joe Biden on December 15, 2021, and confirmed by the United States Senate on April 27, 2022, filling the seat vacated by the Hon. Manuel Real, who assumed senior status.

Prior to her confirmation, Garnett presided as a judge for the Los Angeles County Superior Court, a position to which she was appointed by former Governor Jerry Brown in 2014. In addition, she presided as a Justice Pro Tem on the California Court of Appeal for the Second District, Division 7.

Before beginning her judicial career, she was chief of the General Crimes Section of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California since 2014. Garnett first joined the office as an Assistant United States Attorney in 2001, holding an assignment in the Criminal Division. She later served as deputy chief of the General Crimes Section (2011 to 2014) and was the domestic terrorism coordinator for the office (2008 to 2011).

Garnett received a B.A. from the University of California, Riverside in 1991. She went on to complete a J.D. at Harvard Law School in 1995.

After graduating from law school, Garnett began her legal career as an associate at Altheimer & Gray in 1995. She practiced with the firm for three years before beginning a clerkship with the Hon. Barry T. Moskowitz with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California in 1998. Then, the following year, she joined Arnold &Porter, LLP as an associate, where she practiced until 2000.

Garnett served on the Los Angeles County Superior Court’s Community Outreach and Diversity Committees.

She was born in Grand Cayman.

Garnett is a registered Democrat.