predecessor successor birth_place party office term_start appointer image article_title term_end name alma_mater
joseph sneed john owens glen ridge , new jersey , u.s. republican senior for the ninth circuit judge of the united states court judge of appeals for the ninth circuit of the united states court of appeals december 31 , 2004 march 25 , 1988 ronald reagan stephen s. trott circuit judge.jpg stephen s. trott
 december 31 , 2004 stephen trott wesleyan university harvard university
stephen s. trott

stephen s. trott -lrb- born december 12 , 1939 -rrb- is a senior circuit judge for the united states court of appeals for the ninth circuit .
trott was nominated for this position by president ronald reagan on august 9 , 1987 after the seat held by joseph tyree sneed , iii became vacant .
`` he reportedly turned down the opportunity to be nominated for fbi director , preferring the ninth circuit vacancy instead . ''
on march 24 , 1988 , he was confirmed by the u.s. senate , and received his commission the following day .
he took senior status on december 31 , 2004 .
trott was educated at wesleyan university during his adolescent years .
as a freshman at wesleyan , trott was an early member of the folk music group the highwaymen .
he later graduated from harvard law school .
before receiving the court of appeals position , trott had worked at several political and law locations throughout the united states .
he had served as united states attorney for the central district of california from 1981 -- 83 .
he served as assistant attorney general for the united states department of justice criminal division from 1983 -- 86 , and associate attorney general from 1986 -- 88 .
