Morrison C. England Jr.


Morrison Cohen England Jr. is a Senior United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California.

Early life and education

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, England received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of the Pacific in 1977 and a Juris Doctor from University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 1983. He served in the United States Army Reserve from 1988 to 2002.

Career

In 1973 he was an electronic data processing clerk for the California Department of Motor Vehicles. In 1976 he was a free agent with the New York Jets. From 1976 to 1982 he was an assistant football coach at California State University, Fullerton and California State University, Sacramento. From 1978 to 1980 he was an assistant resident manager and law clerk at FPI Management Inc in Sacramento. From 1980 to 1981 he was an on-call counselor with the Sacramento County Juvenile Court. From 1981 to 1983 he was a law clerk at the law firm of Quattrin & Clemons. England was in private practice in California from 1983 to 1988. From 1988 to 2002, he served with the United States Army Reserve, JAG Corps. From 1988–1996, he was a partner with the law firm of Quattrin, Johnson, Campora & England. Between 1996 and 1997, England was a judge on the Municipal Court of California in the County of Sacramento. He served as a judge on the Sacramento Superior Court for the State of California between 1996 and 2002.

District court service

England is a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California. England was nominated by President George W. Bush on March 21, 2002, to a seat vacated by Lawrence K. Karlton. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 1, 2002, and received his commission on August 2, 2002. He served as Chief Judge from May 1, 2012 to April 30, 2016. He assumed senior status on December 17, 2019, his 65th birthday.

Notable ruling

On September 19, 2019, England issued a preliminary injunction against a California law which would require candidates for president to disclose their tax returns in order to be listed on the ballot.

Awards and recognition

2013: Martin Luther King Jr. Peace and Justice Award from the University of the Pacific.