United States Magistrate Judge Barbara A. McAuliffe (BAM)

Federal Judicial Service:

United States District Court, Eastern District of California

United States Magistrate Judge, appointed October 14, 2011

 

Education:

Louisiana State University, B.S., 1980

University of San Diego School of Law, J.D., 1989
Executive Editor of the Law Review
Magna Cum Laude

 

Professional Career:

1989-1991
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Los Angeles, CA

1991-1995
Lang, Richert & Patch, Fresno, CA

1995 to 2000
Partner, Motschiedler, Michaelides & Wishon, Fresno, CA

2000-2011
Law Clerk, Chambers of Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill

 

Biography:

Magistrate Judge Barbara A. McAuliffe was appointed in October 2011. Judge McAuliffe is a 1989 graduate of the University of San Diego School of Law, Magna Cum Laude, where she was the Executive Editor of the Law Review. 

Judge McAuliffe presides over various types of civil cases randomly assigned to her with the parties' consent, including business litigation, employment, class actions, excessive force civil rights and other civil rights cases. She has also presided over numerous jury trials involving complex legal issues and factual disputes. Judge McAuliffe regularly speaks and participates in panels concerning ethics and professionalism and is a Member of the ABA Judicial Division Ethics and Professionalism Committee and is a former member of the California State Bar’s Standing Committee on Professional Responsibility.

Over Judge McAuliffe's 24-year legal career, she has worked on both sides of the bar. She is an experienced litigation partner from a prominent local law firm. An eleven-year private practice, from 1989 to 2000, involved complex civil litigation in employment, construction and business litigation. She has extensive experience in law and motion, settlement conferences, trial, post-trial and judgment enforcement matters in both federal and state courts. After eleven years of successful practice, Judge McAuliffe joined the chambers of then-Magistrate Judge, now District Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill. As his elbow law clerk for eleven years, she was responsible for managing the high volume case load in the Eastern District.

Judge McAuliffe is also an Adjunct Professor at local educational institutions teaching various legal courses, such as Legal Research and Writing, Business Law, Business Ethics, Administrative Law, and International Law. 

Through her years of public service, coupled with private practice and teaching experience, Judge McAuliffe brings to the bench a distinguished academic record, practical litigation experience, and applicable federal court knowledge. Having been in private practice for many years, Judge McAuliffe understands the importance of, and is committed to, the disposition of all cases as speedily and economically as possible.