Gordon Thompson Jr.

Gordon Thompson Jr. (December 28, 1929 – July 5, 2015) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California.

Education and career
Born in San Diego, California, Thompson received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Southern California in 1951 and a Bachelor of Laws from Southwestern University School of Law (now Southwestern Law School) in 1956. He was a deputy district attorney of San Diego County from 1957 to 1960. He was in private practice in San Diego from 1960 to 1970.

Federal judicial service
Thompson was nominated by President Richard Nixon on October 7, 1970, to the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, to a new seat created by 84 Stat. 294. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 13, 1970, and received his commission on October 16, 1970. He served as Chief Judge from 1984 to 1991. He assumed senior status on December 28, 1994 and served in that capacity until his death on July 5, 2015.