Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.
Detra Shaw-Wilder
Detra Shaw-Wilder is an attorney in private practice.[1]
On March 21, 2024, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Shaw-Wilder to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.[1] Shaw-Wilder's nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2025.[2][3] Click here for more information on Shaw-Wilder's federal judicial nomination.
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida is one of 94 U.S. District Courts. They are the general trial courts of the United States federal courts. To learn more about the court, click here.
Judicial nominations and appointments
United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
- See also: Federal judges nominated by Joe Biden
On March 21, 2024, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Shaw-Wilder to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.[1] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.
 |
| Nominee Information |
| Name: Detra Shaw-Wilder |
| Court: United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida |
| Progress |
| Returned 288 days after nomination. |
 Nominated: March 21, 2024
|
| ABA Rating: Well Qualified
|
| Questionnaire: |
 Hearing:
|
| QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
| Reported:
|
| Confirmed:
|
| Returned: January 3, 2025
|
Opposition from home-state senators
- See also: Blue slip (federal judicial nominations)
On March 21, 2024, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Shaw-Wilder to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) announced in June 2024 they would withhold her blue slip. In an interview with the Miami Herald, Scott said he was not consulted, “They haven’t worked with us. And so until they work with us, I’m not moving forward. ... There’s a process, they just said, ‘Heck with the process,’ (and) didn’t go through it.” [4]
A spokesperson for Rubio’s office told the Miami Herald: “As Senator Rubio has said before, the White House needs to work collaboratively with both senators if it wants the process to move forward.” [5]
In response, a Biden administration official told the Miami Herald that Shaw-Wilder’s name had been part of discussions on potential nominees with both senators since July 2022. The Miami Herald also reported that Scott interviewed Shaw-Wilder 2023. [6]
Nomination
On March 21, 2024, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Shaw-Wilder to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.[1] The nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2025.[7][3] Click here for a list of other nominees who have been nominated by President Joe Biden.
The American Bar Association (ABA) rated Shaw-Wilder Well Qualified.[8] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.
About the court
| Southern District of Florida |
|---|
| Eleventh Circuit |
|
| Judgeships |
| Posts: 18 |
| Judges: 17 |
| Vacancies: 1 |
| Judges |
| Chief: Cecilia Altonaga |
| Active judges: Roy Altman, Cecilia Altonaga, Jacqueline Becerra, Beth Bloom, Aileen Cannon, Melissa Damian, William Dimitrouleas, Darrin P. Gayles, David Leibowitz, Jose E. Martinez, Donald Middlebrooks, Kevin M. Moore, Robin L. Rosenberg, Rodolfo Ruiz, Anuraag Singhal, Rodney Smith, Kathleen M. Williams Senior judges: |
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida is one of 94 United States district courts. The district operates out of courthouses in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Fort Pierce. When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit based in downtown Atlanta at the Elbert P. Tuttle Federal Courthouse. The Southern District of Florida has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.
The following counties are located in the Southern District of Florida:
To read opinions published by this court, click here.
The federal nomination process
Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:
- The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
- The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
- The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.
- As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.
- After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.
- If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
- If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.
- The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.
- If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
- If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 WhiteHouse.gov, "Nominations Sent to the Senate," March 21, 2024
- ↑ Under Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate, pending nominations are returned to the president if the Senate adjourns sine die or recesses for more than 30 days.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Congress.gov, "PN1575 — Detra Shaw-Wilder — The Judiciary," January 3, 2025
- ↑ “Tampa Bay Times, "Why Florida’s GOP senators are holding up Biden’s nomination for federal judge," June 1, 2024
- ↑ “Tampa Bay Times, "Why Florida’s GOP senators are holding up Biden’s nomination for federal judge," June 1, 2024
- ↑ “Tampa Bay Times, "Why Florida’s GOP senators are holding up Biden’s nomination for federal judge," June 1, 2024
- ↑ Under Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate, pending nominations are returned to the president if the Senate adjourns sine die or recesses for more than 30 days.
- ↑ American Bar Association, "STANDING COMMITTEE ON THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY," accessed April 16, 2024
Federal courts:
Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida
State courts:
Florida Supreme Court • Florida District Courts of Appeal • Florida Circuit Court • Florida County Court
State resources:
Courts in Florida • Florida judicial elections • Judicial selection in Florida
