Senate Confirms Federal Judge to San Diego Spot

(CN) - U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo has been confirmed as the newest district judge for the federal courthouse in San Diego.

President Barack Obama nominated Bencivengo, 53, for the 9th Circuit court, and the U.S. Senate confirmed her Thursday by a vote of 90-6. She will be replacing U.S. District Judge Jeffrey T. Miller, who took senior status on June 6, 2011.

Bencivengo, a native of Teaneck, N.J., was appointed a federal magistrate judge in 2005.

Prior to that, she was a partner and patent lawyer for San Diego-based DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary, which was formerly known as Gray Cary Ames & Frye.

Bencivengo received her undergraduate and master's degrees from Rutgers and her law degree from University of Michigan.

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California is authorized 13 permanent judgeships and currently has one vacancy.

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