California: Central District of California, the largest federal district court in the U.S. by population had its first Indian American federal judge when Vijay 'Jay' C. Gandhi took oath of office in a ceremonial courtroom in the U.S. federal courthouse. Gandhi is only the second Indian American federal judge in U.S. history and the first in California. He will have jurisdiction over a district covering seven counties, including Los Angeles and Orange, with an estimated 19 million residents. Gandhi, who, like all federal judges, was selected to the post on merit, said he will be serving an eight-year term. He added that federal judges, unlike their state counterparts, do not run for re-election. Instead, federal judges are subject to reappointment to their posts at the end of each term, Gandhi said. Gandhi previously spent about 12 years working as an attorney at Paul, Hastings, where he was a partner and vice-chairman of the firm's Orange County office. A graduate of the University of Southern California Law School, Gandhi had also clerked for U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt in the Southern District of Texas, before joining Paul, Hastings. The oath of office was administered in front of nearly 200 people by Judge Audrey B. Collins, the chief judge of the district. Shortly after taking his oath, Gandhi was officially enrobed by his mother, Uma Gandhi. Several speakers shared thoughts on Gandhi's integrity and character moments after the ceremony. George King, a federal judge in the Central District, spoke of Gandhi's public service record and commitment to the community.