President Biden nominee might become first Latina judge for Fresno federal court

Ana de Alba, a Fresno County Superior Court judge, has been nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as a judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California.

Alba was one of eight new federal judicial nominees announced by the White House on Wednesday.The positions include federal judge posts throughout the country.

If approved by the Senate, she will become the first Latina ever to serve on the Eastern District of California

.Judge de Alba’s nomination also comes at a critical time for the courts of the Eastern District of California that has been backlogged with cases.

Last year, judicial officials halted all new civil cases in the Fresno courthouse because of the shortage of judges.

Hoping to provide relief is the recent appointment of Judge Jennifer L. Thurston. The Bakersfield native was approved by the Senate on a 46-24 vote last month.

Judge de Alba has served as a California Superior Court in Fresno County since 2018. From 2013 to 2018, she was a partner at Lang Richet & Patch. Her practice focused primarily focused on employment, business, tort, and construction litigation.

Judge de Alba received her juris doctor degree from UC Berkeley, School of Law in 2007 and her undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley in 2002.