Magistrate Judge Paul L. Abrams Appointed Chief Magistrate Judge

The United States District Court for the Central District of California announces the appointment of Magistrate Judge Paul L. Abrams as Chief Magistrate Judge, which became effective January 1, 2020. He succeeds Magistrate Judge Patrick J. Walsh, who served as Chief Magistrate Judge from January 2016 to December 2019. The Chief Magistrate Judge serves a four-year term and provides leadership to the Central District of California’s Magistrate Judges.

Judge Abrams was appointed as a Magistrate Judge for the Central District of California on January 14, 2002 and was reappointed in 2010 and 2018. Prior to his appointment, he practiced law with the Federal Public Defender’s Office, eventually becoming a Supervising Deputy Federal Public Defender. Earlier, he practiced civil litigation with the firm now known as Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Mitchell, and was the directing attorney for the San Fernando Valley office of Bet Tzedek Legal Services. Judge Abrams received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and his law degree from the University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law.

KIRY K. GRAY
DISTRICT COURT EXECUTIVE / CLERK OF COURT