San Diegan Presiding Over U.S. Circuit Court

Veteran federal judge J. Clifford Wallace of San Diego was recently named chief judge of the Ninth United States Circuit Court of Appeals.

Brother Wallace, a native of San Diego and a member of the Felicita Ward, Escondido California Stake, has been a member of the court since he was appointed to the position by President Richard M. Nixon in 1972. Previously, he had served as a U.S. district court judge.

Brother Wallace is a former bishop, stake president, and regional representative. He is currently a Sunday School teacher.

The Ninth Circuit Court, the largest of twelve such U.S. courts, deals with legal cases from California, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the northern Mariana islands. Although the court’s headquarters are in San Francisco, Brother Wallace will carry out his duties in San Diego.

The position of chief judge on the court is assigned by seniority for seven years or until the chief judge reaches age 70. Brother Wallace could hold the position until 1998.