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Raymond C. Fisher
Raymond C. Fisher.JPG
Fisher in 2014
Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
In office
March 31, 2013 – February 29, 2020
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
In office
October 12, 1999 – March 31, 2013
Appointed by Bill Clinton
Preceded by David R. Thompson
Succeeded by Michelle Friedland
United States Associate Attorney General
In office
1997–1998
President Bill Clinton
Preceded by John Schmidt
Succeeded by Daniel Marcus
Personal details
Born
Raymond Corley Fisher

(1939-07-12)July 12, 1939
Oakland, California
Died February 29, 2020(2020-02-29) (aged 80)
Sherman Oaks, California
Political party Democratic
Education University of California, Santa Barbara (BA)
Stanford University (LLB)

Raymond Corley Fisher (born July 12, 1939 – died February 29, 2020) was an important American judge. He served as a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. This court hears cases from many western states.

Becoming a Judge

Early Life and School

Raymond Fisher was born in Oakland, California on July 12, 1939. He went to University High School in Los Angeles. After high school, he studied at the University of California at Santa Barbara. He earned his first degree there in 1961.

He then went to Stanford Law School to become a lawyer. He graduated in 1966 with a law degree. While at Stanford, he was the president of the Stanford Law Review. This is a student-run journal that publishes legal articles.

Learning from Top Judges

After law school, Raymond Fisher worked for two very important judges. From 1966 to 1967, he was a law clerk for Judge J. Skelly Wright. Judge Wright worked on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Then, from 1967 to 1968, Fisher worked for Justice William J. Brennan Jr.. Justice Brennan was a judge on the highest court in the country, the Supreme Court of the United States. Working for these judges helped Fisher learn a lot about the law.

Raymond Fisher's Career

Working as a Lawyer

After his time as a law clerk, Raymond Fisher worked as a private lawyer. He practiced law in Los Angeles, California, from 1968 to 1997. This means he helped people with their legal problems.

He also took on special roles in public service. In 1975, he was a special assistant to California Governor Jerry Brown. This showed his interest in helping the government.

Public Service Roles

Raymond Fisher was a member of the Los Angeles City Civil Service Commission. He served there from 1984 to 1989. This group helps make sure city jobs are given fairly.

In 1990, he worked with the Christopher Commission. This group looked into the Los Angeles Police Department. He helped them as a deputy general counsel. From 1995 to 1997, he was the president of the Los Angeles Police Commission. This group oversees the police department.

Serving the Nation

From 1997 to 1999, Raymond Fisher held a big job in the U.S. government. He was the United States Associate Attorney General. This is a high-ranking position in the United States Department of Justice. He worked to help lead the nation's legal system.

Becoming a Federal Judge

Nomination and Confirmation

On March 15, 1999, President Bill Clinton chose Raymond Fisher to be a federal judge. He was nominated for a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. This court makes decisions that affect many people.

The United States Senate had to approve his nomination. They voted 69 to 29 in favor of him on October 5, 1999. He officially became a judge on October 12, 1999.

Important Cases and Retirement

As a judge, Fisher heard many different types of cases. In 2004, he made a decision in a death penalty case. He believed the jury had made a mistake. The Supreme Court of the United States later disagreed with his decision.

In 2006, Judge Fisher disagreed with other judges on his court. They allowed a county to search the homes of people receiving welfare. Fisher thought this was not right.

He continued to serve as a judge until April 1, 2013. At that time, he took senior status. This means he still heard some cases but had a lighter workload. Raymond Fisher passed away on February 29, 2020.

See Also

  • List of law clerks of the Supreme Court of the United States (Seat 3)

Sources

Legal offices
Preceded by
John Schmidt
United States Associate Attorney General
1997–1999
Succeeded by
Daniel Marcus
Preceded by
David R. Thompson
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
1999–2013
Succeeded by
Michelle Friedland
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