James P. Arguelles
James Patrick Arguelles is a California state court judge who is a former nominee to be a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California. Education. Arguelles earned his Bachelor of Science, as a Distinguished Graduate, from the United States Naval Academy, his Master of Strategic Studies, as a Distinguished Graduate, from the United States Army War College, and his Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School in 1996. Legal career. Upon graduation from law school, Arguelles served as a law clerk to Judge Marilyn L. Huff  of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. He was a Partner at Stevens, O'Connell & Jacobs, LLP, an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of California, and in private practice at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. Judicial service. Since 2010, he has been a judge of the Sacramento County Superior Court. He is also a military judge in the United States Army Reserve. Expired nomination to district court. On June 8, 2020, President Trump announced his intent to nominate Arguelles to serve as a United States District Judge for the United States District Court for the  Eastern District of California. On June 18, 2020, his nomination was sent to the Senate. President Trump nominated Arguelles to the seat vacated by Judge Lawrence Joseph O'Neill, who took senior status on February 2, 2020. On January 3, 2021, his nomination was returned to the President under Rule XXXI, Paragraph 6 of the United States Senate.