{ "id": "epnqpe20sx", "slug": "ruth-b-montenegro", "title": "Ruth B. Montenegro", "updated": "2026-10-15", "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-mc-to-my", "label": "Surnames Mc to My", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-mc-to-my" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-mc-to-my", "label": "United States · 2021 and later: Surnames Mc to My", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-mc-to-my", "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-mc-to-my", "label": "Surnames Mc to My", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-mc-to-my" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Ruth Bermudez Montenegro, born 1967, is an American jurist serving as a United States district judge for the Southern District of California since 2022, after serving as a state court judge in Imperial County.", "snippet": "Ruth Bermudez Montenegro, born 1967, is an American jurist serving as a United States district judge for the Southern District of California since 2022, after serving as a state court judge in Imperial County.", "node": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-mc-to-my", "markdown": "# Ruth B. Montenegro\n\nRuth Bermudez Montenegro (born 1967) is an American jurist serving as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California since 2022.[1](https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/ce9/2022/Montenegro_Ruth_Bermudez_CAS_Confirmed.pdf) She was nominated by President Joseph R. Biden and confirmed by the Senate in 2022.[1](https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/ce9/2022/Montenegro_Ruth_Bermudez_CAS_Confirmed.pdf) Before joining the federal bench, she served as a state court judge in [Imperial County, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/imperial-county-california).[1](https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/ce9/2022/Montenegro_Ruth_Bermudez_CAS_Confirmed.pdf)\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Court | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/11690371) |\n| Appointed by | Joseph R. Biden[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/11690371) |\n| Confirmed | March 22, 2022 (Senate voted 55 to 41)[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/11690371) • [3](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1170626) |\n| Born | 1967 in Brawley, California[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/11690371) |\n| Education | A.A., Imperial Valley College, 1987; B.A., Clarion University of Pennsylvania, 1989; J.D., University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law, 1992[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/11690371) |\n\n## Early life and education\n\nMontenegro was born in 1967 in Brawley, California.[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/11690371) She earned an Associate of Arts degree from Imperial Valley College in 1987, a [Bachelor of Arts](https://www.edgepedia.org/bachelor-of-arts) from Clarion University of Pennsylvania in 1989, and a [Juris Doctor](https://www.edgepedia.org/juris-doctor) from the [University of California, Los Angeles](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-california-los-angeles), School of Law in 1992.[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/11690371) According to the Ninth Circuit's announcement of her confirmation, she graduated summa cum laude from Clarion University and was elected to a UCLA graduate honor society while in law school.[1](https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/ce9/2022/Montenegro_Ruth_Bermudez_CAS_Confirmed.pdf)\n\n## Legal career\n\nMontenegro began her career in private practice in [El Centro, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/el-centro-california), from 1993 to 2000.[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/11690371) The Ninth Circuit's announcement states that she practiced at the firm Horton, Knox, Carter & Foote, LLP during this period.[1](https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/ce9/2022/Montenegro_Ruth_Bermudez_CAS_Confirmed.pdf) In 2000, she became deputy county counsel for Imperial County, California.[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/11690371) She then served as director of human resources and counsel for the Imperial Community College District from 2000 to 2002.[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/11690371)\n\nFrom 2002 to 2011, [Montenegro](https://www.edgepedia.org/montenegro) was assistant superintendent of human resources and administrative services and counsel for the El Centro Elementary School District.[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/11690371) She returned to Imperial County government as assistant county counsel from 2011 to 2012.[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/11690371)\n\nMontenegro served as a judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Imperial, from 2012 to 2013 and again from 2015 to 2018, and as a family support commissioner of that court from 2013 to 2015.[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/11690371) The Ninth Circuit's announcement states that she was the first woman to serve as a judge of that court.[1](https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/ce9/2022/Montenegro_Ruth_Bermudez_CAS_Confirmed.pdf) In 2018, she became a [United States magistrate judge](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-states-magistrate-judge) for the Southern District of California, serving as the sole magistrate judge in Imperial County.[1](https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/ce9/2022/Montenegro_Ruth_Bermudez_CAS_Confirmed.pdf)\n\n## Federal judicial service\n\nMontenegro was first nominated to the United States District Court for the Southern District of California on November 3, 2021; no Senate vote occurred on that nomination.[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/11690371) She was renominated on January 3, 2022.[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/11690371) According to the Ninth Circuit's announcement, she had a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on December 15, 2021, and the committee reported her nomination to the Senate floor on January 20, 2022.[1](https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/ce9/2022/Montenegro_Ruth_Bermudez_CAS_Confirmed.pdf)\n\nThe Senate confirmed her nomination on March 22, 2022, by a vote of 55 to 41.[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/11690371) • [3](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1170626) She received her commission on March 30, 2022.[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/11690371) The Ninth Circuit's announcement noted that she filled a seat vacant since February 6, 2018, when District Judge John A. Houston assumed senior status.[1](https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/ce9/2022/Montenegro_Ruth_Bermudez_CAS_Confirmed.pdf)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Ruth Bermudez Montenegro to Serve as U.S. District Judge for Southern District of California](https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/ce9/2022/Montenegro_Ruth_Bermudez_CAS_Confirmed.pdf)\n2. [Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges: Ruth Bermudez Montenegro](https://www.fjc.gov/node/11690371)\n3. [Senate Roll Call Vote, March 22, 2022](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1170626)\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 Mc to My*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 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/ruth-b-montenegro", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/ruth-b-montenegro.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": "\"Ruth B. Montenegro\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/ruth-b-montenegro. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Ruth B. Montenegro](https://www.edgepedia.org/ruth-b-montenegro)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/ruth-b-montenegro](https://www.edgepedia.org/ruth-b-montenegro). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Ruth B. Montenegro\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/ruth-b-montenegro. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Ruth Bermudez Montenegro, born 1967, is an American jurist serving as a United States district judge for the Southern District of California since 2022, after serving as a state court judge in Imperial County." }