Edward J. Davila

Edward John Davila (born June 21, 1952) is a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California and a former judge on the Superior Court of California for Santa Clara County.

Davila was born in Palo Alto, California. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from San Diego State University in 1976. He then attended the University of California, Hastings College of the Law and earned his Juris Doctor in 1979.

On August 8, 2001, California Governor Gray Davis appointed Davila to serve as a judge on the Superior Court of California for Santa Clara County. Davila replaced Judge Donald Clark.

While a Superior Court judge, Davila presided over the high-profile case of a Las Vegas couple, Anna Ayala and Jaime Placencia, who planted a severed human finger in a bowl of Wendy's chili. On January 18, 2006, Davila sentenced Ayala to 9 years in prison and Placencia to 12 years and 4 months in prison.

During the 111th Congress, Senator Barbara Boxer recommended Davila to fill the United States District Court for the Northern District of California vacancy created when Marilyn Hall Patel assumed senior status. On May 20, 2010, President Barack Obama formally nominated Davila to the Northern District of California. Although the Senate Judiciary Committee recommended confirmation on December 1, 2010, the Senate recessed without confirming him.

Obama renominated Davila on January 5, 2011. That nomination was approved by the Judiciary Committee on February 3, and he was confirmed by the Senate on February 14 by a vote of 93 ayes to 0 nays. He received his commission on March 3, 2011.

Davila is married to Mary Greenwood, who formerly served as Santa Clara County Public Defender and is currently a judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara. They reside in Menlo Park, California.