John Arnold Kronstadt (born 1951) is a district judge on the United States District Court for the Central District of California. On April 12, 2011, the Senate voted 96-0 to confirm Kronstadt. He received his judicial commission on April 14, 2011.

[edit] Early life and education

Kronstadt was born in 1951 in Washington, D.C.^[2] He graduated from Cornell University in 1973 with an A.B.^[3] At Cornell, he was a member of the Quill and Dagger society. He earned his J.D. from Yale Law School in 1976.^[3] After completing law school, Kronstadt served as a law clerk for Judge William P. Gray of the United States District Court for the Central District of California.^[4]

[edit] Judicial service

In October 2002, California Governor Gray Davis appointed Kronstadt to the Los Angeles County Superior Court.^[5] He replaced Judge Juelann Cathey,^[5] who had retired earlier that year following major heart surgery.^[6]

While a Superior Court judge, Kronstadt presided over the case to determine rightful ownership of the Bahia Emerald, an 840-pound gemstone that has previously been valued at $372 million.^[7]

On November 17, 2010, President Barack Obama nominated Kronstadt to a judgeship on the United States District Court for the Central District of California^[3] to fill the vacancy created by the death of Florence-Marie Cooper.^[4] On April 12, 2011, the Senate voted 96-0 to confirm his nomination.^[8] Kronstadt received his judicial commission two days later.

[edit] Personal

Kronstadt is married to Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Helen Bendix.^[4]