Phyllis Hamilton, ’76

U.S. District Court Judge for Northern California

Judge Phyllis Hamilton served as deputy public defender at the Public Defender’s Office in San Francisco (1976-1980), administrative judge for the United States Merit Systems Protection Board in San Francisco (1980-1985), and court commissioner of the municipal court in Oakland (1985-1991). At 33, Judge Hamilton became a superior court commissioner in Oakland. Judge Hamilton was appointed U.S. magistrate judge on April 2, 1991. She currently serves as U.S. district court judge for Northern California. An Oakland resident, Hamilton has helped mentor youths in programs such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Judge Hamilton earned a bachelor of arts degree from Stanford University in 1974 and her law degree from Santa Clara University in 1976.