William J. Rea

William J. Rea (February 21, 1920 – August 3, 2005) was a United States federal judge.

Born in Los Angeles, California, Rea received a B.A. from Loyola University, Los Angeles, California in 1942. He served in the United States Navy during World War II, from 1941 to 1946. In 1949, he received an LL.B. from the University of Colorado School of Law. Rea served in private practice, in Los Angeles, California from 1950 to 1964, then in Santa Ana, California from 1964 to 1968. In 1968, he became a judge on the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, California, a position he held until 1984. Rea was a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

Rea was nominated by President Ronald Reagan on May 24, 1984, to a seat vacated by Malcolm M. Lucas. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 15, 1984, and received his commission the same day. On March 31, 1998, he assumed senior status. Rea served in that capacity until his death, in Santa Monica, California.

Sources

• William J. Rea at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.