Sunshine Sykes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sunshine Sykes
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| Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of California | |
| Assumed office June 14, 2022 |
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| Appointed by | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | James V. Selna |
| Judge of the Riverside County Superior Court | |
| In office December 5, 2013 – June 14, 2022 |
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| Appointed by | Jerry Brown |
| Preceded by | Randall White |
| Succeeded by | Magdalena Cohen |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Sunshine Suzanne Sykes
1974 (age 50–51) Tuba City, Arizona, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Stanford University (BA, JD) |
Sunshine Suzanne Sykes, born in 1974, is an important American lawyer. She currently serves as a United States district judge for the United States District Court for the Central District of California. Before this, she was a judge for the California Superior Court in Riverside County from 2013 to 2022.
Early Life and Education
Sunshine Sykes was born in 1974 in Tuba City, Arizona. This area is part of the Navajo Nation Reservation. She grew up in Gallup, New Mexico.
She went to Stanford University, a well-known college, and earned her first degree in 1997. Later, she studied law at Stanford Law School, finishing in 2001. A Juris Doctor (JD) is the degree you get to become a lawyer.
Career as a Lawyer
After law school, Sykes started her career helping people. From 2001 to 2003, she worked as a lawyer for California Indian Legal Services. This organization helps Native American communities with legal issues.
From 2003 to 2005, she worked as a contract attorney. This meant she took on specific legal cases, often helping people who needed a lawyer for their defense. She also worked for the California Department of Social Services.
From 2005 to 2013, Sykes served as a deputy county counsel for Riverside County, California. In this role, she was a lawyer who advised the county government. In 2013, she was chosen by Governor Jerry Brown to become a judge. She then served on the Riverside County Superior Court.
Becoming a Federal Judge
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On December 15, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Sunshine Sykes to become a United States district judge. This is a very important position in the federal court system. She was nominated to fill a spot left by Judge James V. Selna.
Her nomination was reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee. This committee holds hearings to decide if a person is right for the job. After a vote, her nomination moved forward.
On May 18, 2022, the United States Senate voted to confirm her nomination. This meant she was officially approved to become a federal judge. She received her official commission on June 14, 2022. Judge Sykes made history by becoming the fifth American Indian person to serve as a federal judge.
See Also
