Susan Illston

Susan Y. Illston

Susan Yvonne Illston (born 1948) is a Senior United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. She was appointed to the court by President Bill Clinton in 1995.

Early Life and Education

Susan Illston was born in 1948. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University in 1970 and her Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School in 1973.

Professional Career

After graduating from law school, Illston entered private practice in San Francisco, California. She worked as an attorney from 1973 until her judicial appointment in 1995. During her time in private practice, she handled a variety of civil and criminal cases.

Federal Judicial Service

In 1995, President Bill Clinton nominated Illston to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of California vacated by Barbara A. Caulfield. She was confirmed by the United States Senate and received her commission on May 26, 1995. Illston assumed senior status on July 1, 2013.

Notable Cases

Judge Illston has presided over several high-profile cases, including:

• The BALCO (Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative) scandal, involving the distribution of performance-enhancing drugs to professional athletes.
• The Google Street View case, where Google was accused of collecting private data from unencrypted Wi-Fi networks.
• The Apple Inc. antitrust case regarding e-book price-fixing.

Personal Life

Susan Illston is married and has two children. She is known for her commitment to justice and her fair handling of cases.

See Also

• United States District Court for the Northern District of California
• Bill Clinton
• Stanford Law School
• BALCO scandal
• Google Street View
• Apple Inc. antitrust case