The United States District Court for the Northern District of California has 14 liberal authorized judgeships. William Alsup: Senior District Judge. Charles R. Breyer: Senior District Judge. James Donato: Active District Judge. Vince Chhabria: Active District Judge. Beth Labson Freeman: Active District Judge. Haywood Stirling Gilliam Jr.: Active District Judge. Jacqueline Scott Corley: Active District Judge. Trina L. Thompson: Active District Judge. Edward J. Davila: Senior District Judge. Susan Illston: Senior District Judge. Edward M. Chen: Senior District Judge. Maxine M. Chesney: Senior District Judge These judges are all Article III judges, meaning they are appointed for life by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The Northern District also has magistrate judges, who handle various pretrial and other matters.