William A. Fletcher

William A. Fletcher is a prominent American jurist serving as a circuit judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1998, he has authored numerous influential opinions on a wide range of complex legal issues, including civil rights, intellectual property, and administrative law. His judicial career is distinguished by a scholarly approach and a deep engagement with legal doctrine, building upon a distinguished career as a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law.

Early life and education

William A. Fletcher was born in Los Angeles, California, to a family with a strong legal tradition; his mother, Betty Binns Fletcher, later served alongside him on the same appellate court. He pursued his undergraduate studies at Harvard University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Fletcher then attended Yale Law School, where he earned his Juris Doctor and served as an editor for the prestigious Yale Law Journal. His academic training at these elite institutions provided a rigorous foundation in legal theory and constitutional principles.

Legal career

Following his graduation from Yale Law School, Fletcher served as a law clerk for Judge Stanley A. Weigel of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. He then entered private practice at the San Francisco firm Morrison & Foerster, focusing on complex litigation. In 1975, he transitioned to academia, joining the faculty of the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law (then known as Boalt Hall). As a professor, he taught courses on civil procedure, federal courts, and antitrust law, and his scholarship was published in leading journals like the Harvard Law Review and the Stanford Law Review.

Judicial service

On January 7, 1998, President Bill Clinton nominated Fletcher to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit vacated by his mother, Judge Betty Binns Fletcher, who assumed senior status. He faced a protracted confirmation process in the United States Senate, partly due to the political dynamics surrounding judicial appointments during the Clinton administration. After a lengthy delay, the Senate Judiciary Committee reported his nomination favorably, and he was confirmed by the full United States Senate on October 8, 1998. He received his judicial commission the following day, beginning a tenure marked by thoughtful and often influential appellate opinions.

Notable cases and jurisprudence

Judge Fletcher has authored many significant opinions that have shaped Ninth Circuit law. In the realm of civil rights, he wrote for the en banc court in *Chavez v. Martinez*, a case addressing the Fifth Amendment and 42 U.S.C. § 1983. His expertise in intellectual property is evident in opinions such as *Perfect 10, Inc. v. Amazon.com, Inc.*, which dealt with copyright infringement and search engine liability. In administrative law, his concurrence in *Immigration and Naturalization Service v. St. Cyr* analyzed the jurisdiction of federal courts over habeas corpus petitions. His jurisprudence is characterized by meticulous statutory interpretation and a careful balancing of competing constitutional values.

Personal life and legacy

William A. Fletcher is married to Judge Marsha Berzon, his colleague on the Ninth Circuit, creating a unique judicial partnership. They have two children. Beyond his immediate family, his legacy is deeply intertwined with that of his mother, Betty Binns Fletcher, forming a rare mother-son duo on the federal appellate bench. He is recognized within the legal community for his intellectual rigor, judicial temperament, and commitment to the rule of law. His body of work continues to influence the development of federal law, particularly in the expansive Ninth Circuit.

Category:United States court of appeals judges Category:American legal scholars Category:University of California, Berkeley faculty Category:Harvard University alumni Category:Yale Law School alumni Category:1945 births Category:Living people