The Honorable Mónica Ramírez Almadani, United States District Judge for the Central District of California, has been named the 2024-2025 Distinguished Jurist-in-Residence at Southwestern Law School. Southwestern’s Distinguished Jurist-in-Residence Program brings prominent judges to Southwestern to engage with our community and share their expertise.  

“Judge Ramírez Almadani will be a wonderful role model for our students. She has a compelling personal story and has experience in public service, private practice, and legal education,” said Darby Dickerson, President and Dean of Southwestern Law School. “I know she will inspire and motivate our students to pursue their goals with passion.”   

Judge Ramírez Almadani’s residency will include a series of events and interactions with the Southwestern community, beginning with the Distinguished Jurist-in-Residence Program on October 9, 2024. This event will feature a conversation between Judge Ramírez Almadani and Dean Dickerson, covering various topics such as her legal career, including her service as President and CEO of Public Counsel, her approach to judging, and advice for law students.   

Judge Ramírez Almadani is a Los Angeles native appointed to the bench by President Biden and confirmed by the Senate in November 2023.  She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University and her Juris Doctor degree from Stanford Law School. After clerking for the Honorable Warren J. Ferguson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, she worked with the ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project, focusing on complex civil rights and immigration litigation. She served as a federal prosecutor in Los Angeles, as well as in high-level positions within the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. during the Obama Administration. Judge Ramírez Almadani also served as Special Assistant Attorney General of California and, immediately prior to joining the bench, led Public Counsel, the nation’s largest pro bono civil rights law firm, as its President and CEO. Judge Ramírez Almadani has also taught at UC Irvine Law School and practiced at Covington & Burling LLP.

“Southwestern’s commitment to practical legal education aligns closely with my belief that understanding the real-world impact of the law is essential for any aspiring attorney,” said Judge Ramírez Almadani. “I’m looking forward to engaging with students, discussing the complexities of legal practice, and exploring the diverse roles lawyers play in our society.”