New Chief Judge at Manhattan Federal Court

Wood to Resign as Chief Of Southern District Court
The New York Law Journal, NEWS IN BRIEF, by Mark Hamblett - May 22, 2009

Judge Kimba M. Wood said yesterday she is stepping down as chief judge of the Southern District. After almost three years on the job, she said she is relinquishing the title effective June 1 to spend more time in the courtroom, "my true calling." She also will take senior status. Judge Loretta A. Preska, the next most-senior active judge in the 46-judge district, will become the next chief. Judge Wood's tenure was marked by a renewed effort to increase transparency at the court and improve public access to documents and proceedings. Judge Wood also said she was proud of the progress made on a number of fronts during her time as chief of the nation's largest district court, including an increase in electronic case filing and the improvement of court administration through enhanced computerization. Judge Wood, who was nominated for the court in 1987 by President Ronald Reagan, has a big case starting next week, when jury selection begins Wednesday in the closely watched trial of Wiwa v. Royal Dutch Petroleum. The action, brought under the Allen Tort Claims Act, seeks to hold a foreign oil company vicariously liable for human rights violations, including the execution of activist Ken Wiwa and eight others by Nigerian authorities in 1995.