Richard A. Paez

Professional career

• Paez began his legal career as a staff attorney for California Rural Legal Assistance (1972–1974) and then for the Western Center on Law and Poverty (1974–1976). He joined the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles in 1976, serving in various roles including senior counsel, director of litigation, deputy director for litigation, and acting executive director until 1981.
• Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, California, 1976-1981; senior counsel, 1976-1978; director of litigation, 1978-1979; deputy director of litigation, 1979-1980; acting executive director and director of litigation, 1980-1981
• Judge, Los Angeles California Municipal Court, 1981-1994
• acting executive director and director of litigation, 1980-1981
• deputy director of litigation, 1979-1980
• director of litigation, 1978-1979
• senior counsel, 1976-1978
• Staff attorney, Western Center on Law and Poverty, 1974-1976
• Staff attorney, California Rural Legal Assistance, 1972-1974

Judicial service

• Trial Judge, Municipal Court of California, County of Los Angeles, 1981-1994
• Judge, District Court, C.D. California, 1994-2000
• Judge, Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2000-present
• Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Professional Career: Judge, Los Angeles [California] Municipal Court, 1981-1994
• Paez held the role of a judge on the Los Angeles Municipal Court from 1981 to 1994. He was nominated by President Bill Clinton to the United States District Court for the Central District of California on March 9, 1994, confirmed by the Senate on June 15, 1994, and received his commission on June 16, 1994. He was the second Mexican American to serve on this court. On January 26, 1999, Paez was nominated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to fill the seat vacated by Cecil F. Poole. After a lengthy confirmation process lasting 1,506 days—the longest at that time for any judicial nominee—he was confirmed by the Senate on March 9, 2000, and received his commission on March 14, 2000. He assumed senior status on December 13, 2021, following the confirmation of his successor, Lucy H. Koh.
• Paez is recognized for his long-standing service on the federal bench, his advocacy for judicial independence, and his contributions to civil rights and legal aid early in his career. His confirmation process highlighted the political challenges faced by judicial nominees and underscored his resilience and commitment to public service.

Education

• University of California · J.D., 1972
• Brigham Young University · B.A., 1969

Personal record

Born 1947 · Salt Lake City, UT