United States Magistrate Judge Sheila K. Oberto was appointed as a United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of California on April 12, 2010.
Before taking the bench, Judge Oberto served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of California. From 1990 to 1999, she litigated a wide range of civil cases, representing both plaintiffs and defendants. She has substantial experience in personal injury and tort cases, contract actions, employment discrimination, civil rights, ADA litigation, environmental and land use actions, tax cases, asset forfeiture, bankruptcy, and civil fraud. In 1999, she joined the criminal division as a federal prosecutor, handling complex white collar cases and serving as Deputy Chief of the Fresno Office and Chief of the White Collar Crime Unit. She began her career as a law clerk for Justice Armand Arabian with the California Court of Appeals, Second Appellate District, and practiced privately at Irell & Manella in Los Angeles and Baker, Manock & Jensen in Fresno.
Education
- University of Southern California School of Law, J.D., 1985
- UCLA, M.S., 1979
- University of Southern California, B.S., 1977
Career
- 1999–2010: Assistant U.S. Attorney, Criminal Division, Eastern District of California, Fresno (Deputy Chief, Fresno Office, 1/2006–1/2008; Chief, White Collar Crime Unit, 2/2008–4/9/2010)
- 1990–1999: Assistant U.S. Attorney, Civil Division, Eastern District of California, Fresno
- 1988–1989: Private Practice, Baker, Manock & Jensen, Fresno, CA
- 1985–1987: Private Practice, Irell & Manella, Los Angeles, CA
- Law Clerk to Justice Armand Arabian, California Court of Appeals, Second Appellate District