Commencement Speaker
Judge Edward J. Davila began his legal career with the Santa Clara County Office of the Public Defender following his graduation from Hastings College of the Law. In 1989 he established the criminal defense firm of Davila & Polverino in San Jose.
Judge Davila has been actively involved with the Santa Clara Bar Association, having served as past President, Barristers Club President, and membership on the Diversity Committee and Judiciary Committee. He is a recipient of the Beryl Salsman Award and Unsung Hero Award from the Bar Association.
Judge Davila is a past President of the Santa Clara County La Raza Lawyers Association and has been recognized by the Hispanic Business Magazine as one of the 100 most influential Latinos in the United States.
Judge Davila has served as Chair of the Santa Clara University Law School Advisory Board.
He is a recipient of the Social Justice and Human Rights Award and the Amicus Award from Santa Clara University Law School.
Judge Davila was appointed by Governor Gray Davis in 2001 to the Santa Clara County Superior Court where he sat as a trial judge.
In 2010 Senator Barbara Boxer recommended Judge Davila to the White House and President Barack Obama nominated him for a seat on the Federal District Court.
He was confirmed by a unanimous vote of the United States Senate on February 14, 2011.
In addition to his judicial duties, Judge Davila is Chair of the Ninth Circuit Space and Security Committee, he also sits on the Ninth Circuit State and Federal Judicial Council, was the Program Chair for the 2017 Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference and was the Ninth Circuit Conference Chair in 2018.
Judge Davila is married to the Hon. Mary J. Greenwood, Presiding Justice for the California Court of Appeal, Sixth District.
