Thomas John Whelan (born February 21, 1940) is a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California.

Early life and education

Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Whelan received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of San Diego in 1961 and a Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1965.

Career

Whelan was a contracts administrator, planner and estimator for General Dynamics Corp. from 1961 to 1969. He was a deputy district attorney of San Diego from 1969 to 1989.

Judicial career

Whelan was a judge on the San Diego County Superior Court from 1990 to 1998. As a superior court judge, Whelan presided over the infamous Betty Broderick trials in San Diego. Whelan is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. Whelan was nominated by President Bill Clinton on June 4, 1998, to a seat vacated by John Skylstead Rhoades Sr. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 21, 1998, and received his commission on October 22, 1998. He assumed senior status on August 15, 2010. Notable cases that Whelan has presided over on the district bench include:

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