{ "id": "epp1g9ahjd", "slug": "cathy-a-bencivengo", "title": "Cathy A. Bencivengo", "updated": "2026-09-29", "topic_path": [ { "id": "society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society" }, { "id": "society.law", "label": "Law and justice", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law" }, { "id": "society.law.practice", "label": "Courts and legal practice", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people", "label": "Legal biographies", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us", "label": "United States judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal", "label": "US federal judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3", "label": "Article III judges (district and appellate)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges", "label": "United States district court judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-a-to-bi", "label": "Surnames A to Bi", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-a-to-bi" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-a-to-bi", "label": "United States · 2021 and later: Surnames A to Bi", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-a-to-bi", "path": [ { "id": "geo.us", "label": "United States", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021", "label": "United States · 2021 and later", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law", "label": "Law and justice", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice", "label": "Courts and legal practice", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people", "label": "Legal biographies", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us", "label": "United States judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal", "label": "US federal judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges", "label": "United States district court judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-a-to-bi", "label": "Surnames A to Bi", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-a-to-bi" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Cathy A. Bencivengo, born Cathy Ann Bencivengo in 1958, is an American jurist serving as a United States district judge for the Southern District of California since 2012.", "snippet": "Cathy A. Bencivengo, born Cathy Ann Bencivengo in 1958, is an American jurist serving as a United States district judge for the Southern District of California since 2012.", "node": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-a-to-bi", "markdown": "# Cathy A. Bencivengo\n\nCathy Ann Bencivengo (born 1958) is an American jurist serving as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California since 2012.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393891) She was appointed by President Barack Obama.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393891) Before her district court appointment, she served as a [United States magistrate judge](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-states-magistrate-judge) for the same district.[2](https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/uploads/ce9/426-Bencivengo_Confirmed.pdf)\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Court | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393891) |\n| Appointed by | Barack Obama[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393891) |\n| Confirmed | February 9, 2012 (Senate voted 90 to 6)[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393891) • [3](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1120251) |\n| Born | 1958 in Teaneck, New Jersey[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393891) |\n| Education | B.A. Rutgers University, 1980; M.A. Rutgers University, 1981; J.D. University of Michigan Law School, 1988[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393891) |\n\n## Early life and education\n\nBencivengo was born in 1958 in [Teaneck, New Jersey](https://www.edgepedia.org/teaneck-new-jersey).[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393891) She received a B.A. from [Rutgers University](https://www.edgepedia.org/rutgers-university) in 1980 and an M.A. from Rutgers University in 1981.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393891) She earned her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 1988.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393891)\n\n## Legal career\n\nFrom 1988 to 2005, Bencivengo was in private practice in San Diego, California.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393891) During her time in private practice, she served as a national co-chair of her firm's Patent Litigation Practice Group.[2](https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/uploads/ce9/426-Bencivengo_Confirmed.pdf) She was appointed a federal magistrate judge on December 5, 2005, serving in the Southern District of California.[2](https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/uploads/ce9/426-Bencivengo_Confirmed.pdf)\n\n## Federal judicial service\n\nPresident [Barack Obama](https://www.edgepedia.org/barack-obama) nominated Bencivengo to the United States District Court for the Southern District of California on May 11, 2011, to a judgeship that had been vacant since June 6, 2010, when U.S. District Judge Jeffrey T. Miller took senior status.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393891) • [2](https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/uploads/ce9/426-Bencivengo_Confirmed.pdf) The Senate confirmed her nomination on February 9, 2012, by a vote of 90 to 6.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393891) • [3](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1120251) She received her commission on February 10, 2012.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393891) Her chambers are at 333 West Broadway, Suite 1510, San Diego, California 92101.[2](https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/uploads/ce9/426-Bencivengo_Confirmed.pdf)\n\n## Notable cases\n\nIn a patent case, Bencivengo denied a motion by Alphatec, writing that \"Statutory estoppel does not apply to either the on-sale bar or indefiniteness challenges asserted by Alphatec. The motion is DENIED.\"[4](https://ezel.ai/judges/casd/cathy-ann-bencivengo)\n\nIn a prisoner civil rights case, Bencivengo denied the plaintiff's motion to proceed in forma pauperis (court permission to proceed without paying filing fees) under the Prison Litigation Reform Act three-strikes rule, 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g), after finding five qualifying prior strikes, and dismissed the Section 1983 action without prejudice for failure to pay the filing fee, with no imminent-danger exception. Her order stated that \"the Court... DISMISSES this civil action without prejudice based on Tyler's failure to pay the full $405 civil filing fee required by 28 U.S.C. 1914(a).\"[4](https://ezel.ai/judges/casd/cathy-ann-bencivengo)\n\nIn a 2018-2022 civil rights case, Bencivengo granted a motion to dismiss the Fourteenth Amendment claims, Monell claims, and false arrest claims against all parties with prejudice, and granted the motion to dismiss the Bane Act claims without prejudice.[4](https://ezel.ai/judges/casd/cathy-ann-bencivengo)\n\nHer docket in the 2018-2022 period has included immigration and controlled-substance prosecutions, patent and intellectual-property disputes, insurance coverage, consumer protection, employment, civil rights, warranty claims, and detainee litigation, reflecting a substantial patent caseload alongside a broad general civil docket.[4](https://ezel.ai/judges/casd/cathy-ann-bencivengo)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Bencivengo, Cathy Ann – Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393891)\n2. [Cathy Ann Bencivengo Confirmed as District Judge for Southern District of California](https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/uploads/ce9/426-Bencivengo_Confirmed.pdf)\n3. [U.S. Senate Roll Call Vote RS1120251](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1120251)\n4. [Cathy Ann Bencivengo — Rulings & How They Decide](https://ezel.ai/judges/casd/cathy-ann-bencivengo)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Law and justice › Courts and legal practice › Legal biographies › United States judges › US federal judges › Article III judges (district and appellate) › United States district court judges › Surnames A to Bi*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Sep 29, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/cathy-a-bencivengo", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/cathy-a-bencivengo.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Cathy A. Bencivengo\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/cathy-a-bencivengo. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Cathy A. Bencivengo](https://www.edgepedia.org/cathy-a-bencivengo)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/cathy-a-bencivengo](https://www.edgepedia.org/cathy-a-bencivengo). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Cathy A. Bencivengo\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/cathy-a-bencivengo. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Cathy A. Bencivengo, born Cathy Ann Bencivengo in 1958, is an American jurist serving as a United States district judge for the Southern District of California since 2012." }