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Grace Obermann

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Grace Obermann
Image of Grace Obermann

Nonpartisan

Education

Bachelor's

Rutgers University, 1984

Law

The George Washington University Law School, 1989

Personal
Birthplace
Rahway, N.J.
Profession
Attorney

Grace Karaffa Obermann is an administrative patent judge for the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board.

On October 30, 2019, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Obermann to a seat on the United States Court of Federal Claims. Obermann's nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2021.[1] President Trump renominated Obermann on the same day. President Joe Biden (D) withdrew the nomination on February 4, 2021.[2] Click here for more information on Obermann's federal judicial nomination.

The United States Court of Federal Claims is an Article I tribunal, a federal court organized under Article One of the United States Constitution. To learn more about the court, click here.

Judicial nominations and appointments

United States Court of Federal Claims

See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump

On October 30, 2019, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Obermann to a seat on the United States Court of Federal Claims.[1] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.

Nomination Tracker
Fedbadgesmall.png
Nominee Information
Name: Grace Obermann
Court: United States Court of Federal Claims
Progress
Returned 431 days after nomination.
ApprovedANominated: October 30, 2019
ApprovedAABA Rating: Not rated by the ABA
Questionnaire: Questionnaire
ApprovedAHearing: November 13, 2019
QFRs: QFRs (Hover over QFRs to read more)
ApprovedAReported: March 5, 2020 
DefeatedAConfirmed:
DefeatedAReturned: January 3, 2021
DefeatedAWithdrawn: February 4, 2021

Senate Judicial Committee

The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on Obermann's nomination on November 13, 2019.[3] Obermann was reported to the full Senate on March 5, 2020, after a voice vote by the judiciary committee.[4]

Nomination

On October 2, 2019, President Donald Trump (R) announced his intent to nominate Obermann to a seat on the United States Court of Federal Claims.[5] The nomination was officially received in the U.S. Senate on October 30.[1] The nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2020.[1]

The president officially renominated Obermann on January 9.[6] Obermann's nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2021.[7] The president renominated Obermann on January 3.[8] President Joe Biden (D) withdrew the nomination on February 4, 2021.[2]

Obermann was nominated to succeed Judge Susan G. Braden, who assumed senior status on July 13, 2018.[1]

Education

Obermann obtained a B.A. in chemistry from Rutgers University in 1984 and a J.D., with honors, from The George Washington University Law School in 1989.[9] During her legal studies, Obermann was a member of The George Washington Law Review.[5]

Professional career

About the court

Court of Federal Claims
Federal Circuit
US Court of Federal Claims.png
Judgeships
Posts: 16
Judges: 16
Vacancies: 0
Judges
Chief: Elaine Kaplan
Active judges: Armando Omar Bonilla, Kathryn Davis, Thompson Michael Dietz, Philip Hadji, Richard Hertling, Ryan Holte, Elaine Kaplan, Carolyn Lerner, Robin M. Meriweather, Edward Meyers, Eleni Roumel, Stephen Schwartz, Molly Silfen, Matthew Solomson, Zachary Somers, David A. Tapp

Senior judges:
Susan G. Braden, Eric G. Bruggink, Lynn J. Bush, Edward J. Damich, Nancy B. Firestone, Robert H. Hodges Jr., Marian Blank Horn, Charles F. Lettow, Loren A. Smith, Margaret M. Sweeney, Thomas C. Wheeler, John Paul Wiese, Mary Ellen Coster Williams, Victor J. Wolski


The United States Court of Federal Claims is a United States federal court that hears claims against the U.S. government. It was created in 1982 as an Article I tribunal.

Judgments of the court may be appealed to the Federal Circuit.

The court has jurisdiction over claims across the United States for over $10,000 and congruent jurisdiction with the United States District Courts on claims under $10,000.[10]

The court has original jurisdiction over all money claims against the federal government based in federal statute, executive order, or contract. This jurisdiction also includes bid protests and vaccine compensations. The approximate breakdown of the cases by jurisdiction includes:

  • Tax Refund Suits ~ 25%
  • Contract Claims ~ 33%
  • Fifth Amendment takings ~ 10%

The rest constitute other varieties of claims.[10]

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. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Congress.gov, "PN1251 — Grace Karaffa Obermann — The Judiciary," accessed November 1, 2019
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Congress.gov, "PN30 — Grace Karaffa Obermann — The Judiciary," accessed February 8, 2021
  3. ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee, "Nominations," November 13, 2019
  4. ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee, "Results of Executive Business Meeting," March 5, 2020
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 WhiteHouse.gov, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Judicial Nominees," October 2, 2019
  6. ↑ Congress.gov, "PN1382 — Grace Karaffa Obermann — The Judiciary," accessed January 10, 2020
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ WhiteHouse.gov, "Thirty Nominations Sent to the Senate," January 3, 2021
  9. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Court of Federal Claims, About the Court

Virginia courts

Federal courts:

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Virginia, Western District of Virginia • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Virginia, Western District of Virginia

State courts:

Virginia Supreme Court • Virginia Court of Appeals • Virginia Circuit Courts • Virginia District Courts • Virginia Magistrates

State resources:

Courts in Virginia • Virginia judicial elections • Judicial selection in Virginia

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