John Clifford Wallace

Who is John Clifford Wallace?

John Clifford Wallace is a United States federal judge.

Born in San Diego, California, Wallace received a B.A. from San Diego State University in 1952, and an LL.B. from University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law in 1955. He served in the United States Navy as a Second Class Petty Officer from 1946 to 1949. He was in private practice in San Diego from 1955 to 1970, at the law firm of Gray Carey Ames & Frye.

Wallace served as a federal trial-court judge on the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, having been nominated by President Richard Nixon on October 7, 1970, to a new seat created by 84 Stat. 294. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 13, 1970, and received his commission on October 16, 1970.

Wallace was subsequently nominated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit by President Nixon on May 22, 1972, to a seat vacated by the Honorable James Marshall Carter. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 28, 1972, and received his commission the same day. Wallace served as Chief Judge of the Ninth Circuit from 1991 to 1996. He assumed senior status on April 8, 1996.