Robert J. Timlin

Robert James Timlin was born on July 26, 1932, in Buffalo, New York. His parents were both attorneys. He was raised in Washington, D.C. and attended Gonzaga High School, graduating in 1950. He then attended Georgetown University in Washington, D.C, graduating with a B.A. in 1954, cum laude. He then attended the University of Michigan Law Center in Ann Arbor from September 1954 to June 1955. He then returned to Georgetown University Law Center and obtained his J.D. in 1959 and his LL.M. in 1964.

Timlin was admitted to the Illinois Bar in November 1959, and the District of Columbia Bar in June 1960. He worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Central District of California at Los Angeles from March 1964 to May 1966, and as a Special Attorney with the Justice Department's Criminal Division from September 1961 to July 1964. He then returned to private practice in Riverside, California, from 1970 to 1976. During that time, he was also the City Attorney for Corona and Norco in Riverside County from 1971 to 1976. He was also a part-time U.S. Magistrate (now U.S. Magistrate Judge) in the Central District of California, Riverside County, from 1971 to 1975.

In 1976, he was appointed to a newly created position as a Judge of the Superior Court of Riverside County, confirmed by the electorate in 1982 and reelected in 1988. He was appointed Presiding Judge from 1984 to 1986. In 1990, he was appointed by Governor Deukmejian to the Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division Two, succeeding Associate Justice John Hayden Hews. He was confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments and the electorate in 1990, and served until his retirement in 1994.

In April 1994, he was nominated to the newly created position of Judge of the United States District Court, Central District of California by President Clinton, and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in September 1994. He took his judicial oath in October 1994.

Timlin was a member of the California Judges Association from 1976 (including Executive Board, Civil Law and Procedure Committee, Ethics Committee, and Public Information Committee). He was also a member of the American Bar Association from 1959, the Riverside County Law Library Board of Trustees from 1978, the Georgetown University Alumni Club of Southern California from 1964, and many other organizations. He has lectured and taught at several institutions, and has authored several publications.

Timlin is married with two children and enjoys watching ball games, attending movies, and reading in his spare time. He is a Democrat and a Roman Catholic.