Frances Kay Behm

Eastern District of Michigan
	Sixth Circuit
Judgeships
	Posts: 15
	Judges: 14
	Vacancies: 1
Judges
	Chief: Stephen Murphy
	Active judges: Terrence Berg, Susan DeClercq, Mark Goldsmith, Jonathan Grey, Frances Kay Behm, Shalina Kumar, Matthew Frederick Leitman, Judith Ellen Levy, Thomas Ludington, Brandy McMillion, Laurie Michelson, Stephen Murphy, Linda V. Parker, Robert White; Senior judges:; Paul Borman, Robert Cleland, Gershwin Drain, Nancy Edmunds, Bernard Friedman, Denise Hood, David Lawson, George Steeh

Nomination Tracker
Nominee Information
	Name: Frances Kay Behm
	Court: United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
Progress
	Confirmed 148 days after nomination.
	Nominated: July 11, 2022
	ABA Rating: Well qualified
	Questionnaire: Questionnaire
	Hearing: July 27, 2022
	Hearing Transcript: Hearing Transcript
	QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
	Reported: September 15, 2022
	Confirmed: December 6, 2022
	Vote: 49-47

Frances Kay Behm is a judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. She was nominated to the court by President Joe Biden (D) on July 11, 2022, and confirmed by the United States Senate on December 6, 2022, by a vote of 49-47.^[1]^[2] Behm was one of 235 Article III judges nominated by President Joe Biden (D) and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. To see a full list of judges appointed by Joe Biden, click here.

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan 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.

Prior to her confirmation, Behm was a judge of the Genesee County circuit and probate courts.^[1]

Judicial nominations and appointments

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan (2022-present)

See also: Federal judges nominated by Joe Biden

On July 11, 2022, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Frances Kay Behm to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. She was confirmed by a 49-47 vote of the U.S. Senate on December 6, 2022.^[2] Behm received commission on December 15, 2022.^[3] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.

Confirmation vote

The U.S. Senate confirmed Behm by a vote of 49-47 on December 6, 2022.^[2] To see a full breakdown of the vote on the official U.S. Senate website, click here.

Behm confirmation vote (December 6, 2022)
Party	Yea	Nay	No vote
Democratic	44	0	4
Republican	3	47	0
Independent	2	0	0
Total	49	47	4

Senate Judiciary Committee hearing

The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on Behm's nomination on July 27, 2022. She was reported to the full Senate on September 15, 2022, after a 12-10 committee vote.^[4]

Nomination

On July 11, 2022, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Behm to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. The president announced his intent to nominate Behm on June 29, 2022.^[1]

Behm was nominated to replace Judge David M. Lawson, who assumed senior status on August 6, 2021.^[2]

The American Bar Association rated Behm well qualified.^[5] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.

Biography

Education

Behm earned a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 1994, and a B.A., summa cum laude, from Albion College in 1991.^[1]

Professional career

2022-present: Judge, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
2009-2022: Judge, Genesee County circuit and probate courts
2008-2009: Solo practitioner
1997-2008: Associate, Winegarden, Haley, Lindholm, & Robertson in Flint, Michigan
1994-1997: Associate, Braun Kendrick Finbeiner in Saginaw, Michigan^[1]

About the court

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan is one of 94 United States district courts. It was established by an act of Congress on December 24, 1863. When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit based in downtown Cincinnati at the Potter A. Stewart Federal Courthouse and Building.

The Counties of the Eastern District of Michigan (click for larger map)

The Eastern District of Michigan has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.

The District Court is based in Detroit, with courthouses also located in Ann Arbor, Bay City, Flint, and Port Huron.

The geographic jurisdiction of the Eastern District of Michigan consists of all the following counties in the eastern part of the state of Michigan.

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.