Obama Looks To Silicon Valley For Next Federal Appeals Court Judge

U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh, Silicon Valley’s most influential judge, is likely to be the next nominee to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Koh has spent nearly six years presiding over cases in San Jose, Calif., including the closely-watched Apple v. Samsung patent feud and lawsuits over major tech companies’ illegal hiring practices. The Ninth Circuit Appeals Court includes California and eight other Western states. Koh faces an uphill battle for confirmation with a Republican-controlled Senate in an election year.