Wilken to Replace Ware as Chief San Fran Judge

(CN) - Chief U.S. District Judge James Ware will retire in August, just a year and a half after taking charge of California's Northern District.

Ware was nominated to the federal judgeship in 1990 by President George Bush, replacing Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker last year.

In this role, Ware presided over major cases including the fight for gay marriage in California and an antitrust case against Apple.

He announced Tuesday at a judicial conference in Monterey that he will step down as Chief Judge and retire in August. He will be replaced by U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken, who has sat on the bench since her appointment by President Bill Clinton in 1993

"Providing leadership to the court in my capacity as chief judge has been an extremely rewarding part of my judicial career," Ware said in a statement.

"It is good to know that the court is in such good hands as I prepare to pass the leadership of the court to Judge Wilken."

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