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Bruce Jenkins
Bruce Sterling Jenkins was an Article III federal judge for the United States District Court for the District of Utah. He joined the court in September 1978 after being nominated by President Jimmy Carter. Jenkins assumed senior status on September 30, 1994. His service ended on November 7, 2023, upon his death.[1]
Early life and education
Jenkins graduated magna cum laude from the University of Utah in 1949 where he was also a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi. Jenkins obtained his LL.B. from the Utah College of Law in 1952. While in law school, Jenkins was a member of the Board of Editors of the Utah Law Review. He was honored with membership into the Order of the Coif in 1975.[2] Jenkins also served from 1945 to 1946 in the US Navy.[1]
Professional career
After law school and military service, Jenkins had a long and varied legal career that prepared him for the federal bench. Jenkins worked as a private practice attorney in Utah from 1952 to 1965. Also, Jenkins served as an assistant state attorney General and was a part-time deputy county attorney in Salt Lake County from 1954 to 1958. In 1958, Jenkins was elected a member of the Utah State Senate and served in the Senate until 1965. After serving in the Senate, Jenkins left private practice to serve as Bankruptcy Referee for the US Bankruptcy Court of Utah from 1965 to 1973.[1]
Judicial career
District of Utah
Jenkins was appointed by the Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Utah to become a US Bankruptcy Judge, a capacity in which he served from 1973 to 1978.
In 1978, Jenkins was nominated as federal judge by President Jimmy Carter on August 28, 1978, to fill a seat vacated by Willis Ritter. Jenkins was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on September 20, 1978, and received his commission on September 22, 1978. Jenkins was one of five persons recommended for the position by a Bi-Partisan state-wide Merit Selection Committee. Jenkins became Chief Judge of the court on December 20, 1984, before stepping aside as Chief Judge on May 28, 1993. During his tenure as Chief Judge, the court twice compiled, revised and published local rules; automated and computerized the court's administrative, record keeping, and research functions; reorganized the clerk's office and probation department and began and completed a major remodeling of the Federal Courthouse in Salt Lake City. Jenkins assumed senior status on September 30, 1994. His service ended on November 7, 2023, upon his death.[1][2] Jenkins was succeeded in this position by Tena Campbell.
See also
External links
- Jenkins Biography from the Federal Judicial Center
Footnotes
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
United States District Court for the District of Utah 1994-2023 |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
United States District Court for the District of Utah 1978-1994 |
Succeeded by Tena Campbell |
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Active judges |
Chief Judge: Robert Shelby • Jill Parrish • Howard Nielson • David Barlow • Ann Marie McIff Allen | ||
| Senior judges |
Tena Campbell • David Sam • Dale Kimball • Brian Stewart (Utah) • Clark Waddoups • David Nuffer • | ||
| Magistrate judges | Dustin B. Pead • Cecelia Romero • Paul Kohler • Daphne Oberg • Jared Bennett • | ||
| Former Article III judges |
Bruce Jenkins • Dee Benson • John Augustine Marshall • Tillman Davis Johnson • Aldon Anderson • Paul Cassell • Albert Christensen • Willis Ritter • David Winder • | ||
| Former Chief judges |
Tena Campbell • Bruce Jenkins • David Sam • Dee Benson • Aldon Anderson • Willis Ritter • David Winder • | ||
