Shireen Matthews

Matthews earned her Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from Georgetown University and her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Duke University School of Law.[2] She is of Indian descent.[3]

Upon graduation from law school, Matthews served as a law clerk for Judge Irma Elsa Gonzalez of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. She then was an associate with Latham & Watkins in San Diego. From July 2008 to September 2013 she served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California.[4] She is currently a partner at Jones Day in San Diego, California.[2]

On August 28, 2019, President Trump announced his intent to nominate Matthews to serve as a United States District Judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. On October 17, 2019, her nomination was sent to the Senate. President Trump nominated Matthews to the seat vacated by Judge Barry Ted Moskowitz, who took senior status on January 23, 2019.[5] On January 3, 2020, her nomination was returned to the President under Rule XXXI, Paragraph 6 of the United States Senate.[6] On February 13, 2020, her renomination was sent to the Senate.[7] On June 17, 2020, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.[8] On July 23, 2020, her nomination was reported out of committee by a voice vote.[9] On January 3, 2021, her nomination was returned to the President under Rule XXXI, Paragraph 6 of the United States Senate.[10]