Senate Confirms Superior Court Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha as United States District Judge for the Central District of California

On December 20, 2020, the United States Senate confirmed President Donald J. Trump’s nomination of Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha to serve as a federal district judge for the United States District Court for the Central District of California.  Judge Aenlle-Rocha will preside over matters in Los Angeles in the Court’s Western Division. 

Judge Aenlle-Rocha has served as a Superior Court Judge for Los Angeles County since his appointment by Governor Jerry Brown in 2017.  Judge Aenlle-Rocha has presided over criminal and civil matters, including over 50 trials.  He most recently presided over a civil independent calendar court at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse.  He also served on several Court Committees— Ethics, Diversity, Community Outreach, and Civil and Small Claims – and on the California Judges Association Civil Law Committee.

Prior to his appointment as a Superior Court Judge, from 2005 to 2017, Judge Aenlle-Rocha worked as a partner at White & Case LLP where he focused on business litigation and white-collar criminal defense.  Judge Aenlle-Rocha’s civil litigation practice included a variety of cases in state and federal courts.  As part of his white-collar practice, Judge Aenlle-Rocha conducted internal investigations on behalf of corporate clients, provided anti-corruption compliance counsel to companies, and represented individuals and companies who were witnesses, subjects, targets, or defendants in criminal and civil enforcement proceedings.  Additionally, at White & Case, Judge Aenlle-Rocha served as a Pro Bono Leader, a member of the Diversity Committee, and an Equal Employment Opportunity Officer.

Before joining White & Case, Judge Aenlle-Rocha worked as a partner at McDermott, Will & Emery LLP from 2000 to 2005 where his practice also consisted of business litigation and white-collar criminal defense.  From 1999 to 2000, he worked as an associate at Stephan, Oringher, Richman & Theodora PC.  During those years, he defended clients in civil actions in state and federal courts, as well as represented hospitals, physicians, and physician groups under investigation by state and federal regulatory agencies.

Before entering private practice, Judge Aenlle-Rocha served as a state and federal prosecutor.  From 1994 to 1999, he served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Central District of California’s Criminal Division, and, from 1990 to 1994, he served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of Florida’s Criminal Division.  As an Assistant United States Attorney, Judge Aenlle-Rocha was a member of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force.  He conducted 11 jury trials, dozens of grand jury investigations, and hundreds of hearings.  Prior to serving as an Assistant United States Attorney, from 1987 to 1990, Judge Aenlle-Rocha served as a deputy district attorney in the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office where he tried over 30 cases involving a variety of offenses, such as fraud, theft, assault, robbery, and murder.

Throughout his career, Judge Aenlle-Rocha has been involved in several bar and judges associations in various capacities, including as President of the Mexican American Bar Foundation.  Judge Aenlle-Rocha received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1983 from Princeton University and his Juris Doctor degree in 1986 from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. 

Judge Aenlle-Rocha fills the vacancy that arose when former District Judge James S. Otero assumed senior status in December 2018.  Including the appointment of Judge Aenlle-Rocha, the Central District of California has 28 authorized Article III judgeships, six of which are currently unfilled.  The Central District of California is comprised of the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo.  It serves more than 19.6 million people, nearly half the population of the State of California.

KIRY K. GRAY
DISTRICT COURT EXECUTIVE/CLERK OF COURT