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George Hanks
2015 - Present
10
George Hanks is a federal judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Hanks received a nomination from President Barack Obama to the same district on September 18, 2014.[1] He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on April 21, 2015.[2]
Prior to being confirmed, he was a federal magistrate judge for the same district. He joined the court as a magistrate in 2010.[3][4]
Education
Judge Hanks received his bachelor's degree in economics from Louisiana State University, where he graduated first in his class in 1986. He then graduated from Harvard Law School, earning a J.D. in 1989. At Harvard, Judge Hanks served as an editor of the Harvard Blackletter Law Journal.[5] He also holds an LL.M from Duke University Law School.[6]
Professional career
- 2003-2010: Judge, Texas First District Court of Appeals
- 2002-Present: Adjunct professor, University of Houston Law Center
- 2001-2002: District judge, Texas District 157
- 1996-2000: Shareholder, Wickliff & Hall, P.C.
- 1991-1996: Associate, Fulbright & Jaworski, LLP
- 1989-1991: Law clerk, Judge Sim Lake, Southern District of Texas[5][1]
Judge Hanks wrote 83 signed opinions in 2006. He was the author of an important opinion that established a waiver-by-conduct exception to sovereign immunity in "TSU v. State Street Bank and Trust".[7]
Hanks was appointed to the Texas First District Court of Appeals in 2002 after Sherry Radack was promoted to Chief Justice.[7]
Judicial career
Southern District of Texas
 |
| Nominee Information |
| Name: George Hanks |
| Court: United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas |
| Progress |
| Confirmed 214 days after nomination. |
 Nominated: September 18, 2014
|
| ABA Rating: Unanimously Well Qualified
|
| Questionnaire: Questionnaire |
| Hearing: January 21, 2015
|
| QFRs: QFRs (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
| Reported: February 26, 2015
|
| Confirmed: April 20, 2015
|
| Vote: 91-0
|
George Hanks was nominated to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas on September 18, 2014, by President Barack Obama. The president on the nominations:
| “ | I am honored to put forward these highly qualified candidates for the federal bench. They will be distinguished public servants and valuable additions to the United States District Court.[1][8] | ” |
The American Bar Association rated Hanks Unanimously Well Qualified for the nomination.[9]
Hanks' nomination was returned on December 31, 2014. He was renominated by President Barack Obama on January 7, 2014.[10]
The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing for Hanks on January 21, 2015.[11] Hanks was reported to the full Senate on February 26, 2015.[12]
On April 20, 2015, the U.S. Senate confirmed Hanks to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas on a vote of 91-0.[2]
Southern District of Texas magistrate
After leaving the Texas First District Court of Appeals in September 2010, he became a federal magistrate judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas.[13]
Awards and association
Awards
- 2009: 5 Year Faculty Award, National Judicial College
- 2009: Volunteer of the Year, Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary
- 2003: Texas Bar Foundation Life Fellow
- 2001: Outstanding Service Award, Houston Lawyers Association
- 1995: Houston Bar Foundation Life Fellow
- 1988: Editor, Harvard Blackletter Law Journal
- 1986: NAACP Legal Defense Fund/Earl Warren Scholarship
- 1986: Graduated First in Class, Louisiana State University
- 1986: Graduated First in Class, Louisiana State University
- 1986: University Medal for Highest Academic Achievement, Louisiana State University
- 1985: Selected by Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society as the "Most Outstanding Junior at Louisiana State University"
- 1984: Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
- 1983: Selected by Mortar Board Senior Honor Society as one of the "Ten Most Outstanding Freshman at Louisiana State University"
- 1983: Mu Sigma Rho Honor Society
- 1983: Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society
- 1983: Mortar Board Senior Honor Society
- 1982: NAACP/Herbert Lehman Education Scholarship
- 1982: Alpha Phi Alpha/Ulric Pryce Memorial Scholarship[5]
Associations
- 2013-Present: Vice president of the board, Lakes of Fondren Homeowners Association
- 2011-Present: Judicial Education Program advisory board member
- 2009-Present: Assistant marathon coach, Houston Fit Running Club
- 2008-2010: Houston Underwater Photography Society
- 2007-2010: Federalist Society
- 2006-Present: American Leadership Forum Class XXIV
- 2005-2006: National Nominations Committee, American Red Cross
- 2005: Houston Realty Breakfast Club
- 2005: National Federation of Pachyderm Clubs
- 2004-2005: Board of directors, Texas Center for the Judiciary
- 2003-Present: Phi Delta Phi International Legal Honors Society, South Texas College of Law - Wood Inn
- 2003-2006: San Jacinto Club
- 2003-2006: Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club
- 2003: Garland Walker Inns of Court
- 2003: Greater Houston Pachyderm Club
- 2001-Present: Board of directors, Greater Houston Chapter of the American Red Cross
- 2009-2011: Chairman, board of directors
- 2006-2008: Chairman-elect, board of directors
- 1999-2010: National Association of Black Scuba Divers/Nubian Dive Club
- 1999-2000: Board member, Lakes of Fondren Homeowners Association
- 1998-2001: Bronze Eagles Flying Club
- 1997-1998: Board of directors, Ensemble Theatre
- 1997: Board of directors, Sheltering Arms Senior Services
- 1996-Present: Liturgical minister, St. Albert of Trapani Catholic Church
- 1995-1998: Board of directors, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Houston[6]
See also
- United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit
External links
- Official Texas First Court of Appeals
- The White House, "President Obama Nominates Seven to Serve on the United States District Courts," September 18, 2014
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The White House, "President Obama Nominates Seven to Serve on the United States District Courts," September 18, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Senate, "On the Nomination (Confirmation George C. Hanks, Jr., of Texas, to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District)," accessed April 21, 2015
- ↑ Southern District of Texas, "Order of Appointment," accessed September 22, 2014
- ↑ United States District Court Southern District of Texas, "United States Magistrate Judge George C. Hanks, Jr.," accessed September 22, 2014
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 First Court of Appeals, "Official biography of Judge Hanks," accessed September 22, 2014
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Senate Judiciary Committee, "Questionnaire for the Judicial Candidate," accessed January 7, 2015
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Houston Courts, "Judge Hanks 2009 opinions," accessed September 22, 2014
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ American Bar Association, "Ratings of Article III Judicial Nominees: 113th Congress," accessed September 30, 2014
- ↑ The White House, "Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate," January 7, 2015
- ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee, "Nominations," January 21, 2015
- ↑ The Library of Congress, "Nomination: PN16-114," accessed March 13, 2015
- ↑ The Houston Chronicle, "Perry appoints Houstonian to appeals justice seat," November 10, 2010
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas 2015-Present |
Succeeded by - |
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| Nominated | |||
Federal courts:
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas
State courts:
Texas Supreme Court • Texas Court of Appeals • Texas Court of Criminal Appeals • Texas District Courts • Texas County Courts • Texas County Courts at Law • Texas Statutory Probate Courts • Texas Justice of the Peace Courts
State resources:
Courts in Texas • Texas judicial elections • Judicial selection in Texas
