Larry Alan Burns

Larry Alan Burns (born June 29, 1954) is a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. Early life and education Born in Pasadena, California as Larry Alan Cockburn, his last name was later changed to Burns at the age of 3 in 1957. Burns received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Point Loma College in 1976 and a Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1979. He is the son of a Pasadena police officer. He was a Deputy District Attorney of San Diego County, California from 1979 to 1985. He was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of California from 1985 to 1997. Judicial service In 1997, Burns was appointed to serve as a United States magistrate judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. Burns was nominated by President George W. Bush on May 1, 2003, to a new seat on the Southern District of California created by 116 Stat. 1758. The American Bar Association unanimously rated him "well qualified" for the position. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 24, 2003 by a vote of 91-0. Burns received his commission on September 25, 2003. He became Chief Judge on January 23, 2019 after Barry Ted Moskowitz assumed senior status. Burns assumed senior status on January 22, 2021. On March 17, 2020, Burns declared a judicial emergency in the Southern District of California for one month, due to the COVID-19 epidemic. On April 2, the 9th circuit's judicial council permitted the judicial emergency to be extended for one year, until April 17, 2021.