The United States District Court for the Southern District of California (in case citations, S.D. Cal.) is a federal court in the Ninth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit). The United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation in the court. The current United States Attorney is Laura Duffy, who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 28, 2010.