President Barack Obama has re-nominated Edward Chen ’79 to serve as a U.S. District Court judge for the Northern District of California. Chen was first nominated by Obama on August 6, 2009, but the Senate did not act upon the nomination during its last session. Under Senate rules, the nomination was returned to the president and could not be considered unless made again by the president. A magistrate judge of California’s Northern District since 2001, Chen was re-nominated to fill a judgeship vacant since April 4, 2008. The Northern District court is authorized 14 judgeships—three of which are currently vacant. More information about Chen’s initial appointment is available here.