The Hon.

Kimberly

J.

Mueller

Beginning January 5, 2026, Kim Mueller serves as Director of the Bolch Judicial Institute at Duke Law School and David F. Levi Professor of Practice.  Previously, from 2010 to 2025, she served as a U.S. District Judge for the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California,  and Chief Judge from 2020 to 2024.  She served as a U.S. Magistrate Judge from 2003 to 2010.  Ms. Mueller worked as an associate at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP from 1995 to 2000, and later started her own practice (2000-2003).

She has taught courses in a variety of topics, including rule of law, federal courts, copyright law, and cyberlaw at Pacific McGeorge School of Law and the University of California – Davis, King School of Law.