Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Laphonza Butler and Alex Padilla (both D-Calif.) released the following statements on President Biden’s nomination of Judge Dena Michaela Coggins for the Eastern District of California.
“I am proud to have recommended Judge Coggins for California’s Eastern District and will champion her nomination to one of our nation’s busiest courts,” said Senator Butler. “As one of our state’s leading experts on juvenile law, Judge Coggins will bring her expertise and lived experience to the federal bench to ensure the judicial system delivers equal justice for all. I look forward to her swift confirmation.”
“Judge Coggins has developed an extensive track record as a fair and dedicated judge during her time on the Superior Court in Sacramento County,” said Senator Padilla. “She has a deep understanding of the impact that the judicial system has on our communities, thoughtfully representing individuals in cases including asylum and family law. I applaud President Biden’s nomination of Judge Coggins to continue serving Sacramento and the Eastern District, and I will work with my colleagues to secure her swift confirmation.”
The Eastern District of California is currently seeing an average caseload of twice the national average for federal trial courts. As members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Butler and Padilla are collaborating closely with the Biden Administration to advocate for and support the nominations of qualified and diverse judges. This is Butler’s first judicial recommendation to be nominated and marks Butler’s commitment to addressing the pressing judiciary needs of California.
Judge Dena Michaela Coggins:
Judge Dena Michaela Coggins is currently the Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Court of the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento, having served in that position since 2023 and as a Superior Court judge since 2021. Prior, Judge Coggins was an Administrative Law Judge with the State of California’s Office of Administrative Hearings in the General Jurisdiction Division and served in the Special Education Division. Judge Coggins also served as a supervising attorney and hearing officer at the State of California Victim Compensation Board and as a Deputy Legal Affairs Secretary for the Governor of California. Prior to her state government service, Judge Coggins worked as an associate at Downey Brand L.L.P and at Morrison & Foerster L.L.P. Judge Coggins received her J.D. from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 2006 and her B.S. from California State University, Sacramento in 2003.