Jane Beckering
2021 - Present
3
Jane Beckering is a judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan. She was nominated to the court by President Joe Biden (D) on July 13, 2021, and confirmed by the United States Senate on December 17, 2021, by a vote of 45-25.[1][2] Beckering 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 Western 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 nomination, Beckering was a judge for the 3rd District of the Michigan Court of Appeals. She assumed office in 2007.[3]
Judicial nominations, appointments, and elections
United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan (2021-present)
- See also: Federal judges nominated by Joe Biden
On July 13, 2021, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Beckering to the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan. She was confirmed by a 45-25 vote of the U.S. Senate on December 17, 2021. She received commission on December 21, 2021.[1] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.
 |
| Nominee Information |
| Name: Jane Beckering |
| Court: United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan |
| Progress |
| Confirmed 157 days after nomination. |
 Nominated: July 13, 2021
|
| ABA Rating: Well Qualified
|
| Questionnaire: Questionnaire |
| Hearing: October 6, 2021
|
| Hearing Transcript: Hearing Transcript |
| QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
| Reported: October 28, 2021
|
| Confirmed: December 17, 2021
|
| Vote: 45-25
|
Confirmation vote
The U.S. Senate confirmed Menendez by a vote of 45-25 on December 17, 2021.[1] To see a full breakdown of the vote on the official U.S. Senate website, click here.
| Beckering confirmation vote (December 17, 2021) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Yea | Nay | No vote | ||||||
 Democratic |
42 | 0 | 6 | ||||||
 Republican |
2 | 25 | 23 | ||||||
 Independent |
1 | 0 | 1 | ||||||
| Total | 45 | 25 | 30 | ||||||
Senate Judiciary Committee hearing
The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on Beckering's nomination on October 6, 2021. The committee voted to advance Beckering's nomination to the full Senate on October 28, 2021.
Nomination
On June 30, 2021, President Joe Biden (D) announced his intent to nominate Beckering to the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan.[2] The president officially nominated Beckering on July 13, 2021.[1]
Beckering was nominated to replace Judge Janet Neff, who assumed senior status on March 1, 2021.[2]
The American Bar Association rated Beckering as Well Qualified.[4] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.
Michigan Third District Court of Appeals (2007-2021)
2018 election
General election
General election for Michigan 3rd District Court of Appeals (2 seats)
Incumbent Jane M. Beckering and incumbent Douglas Shapiro won election in the general election for Michigan 3rd District Court of Appeals on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Jane M. Beckering (Nonpartisan) | 52.1 | 678,505 |
| ✔ | Douglas Shapiro (Nonpartisan) | 47.9 | 622,681 | |
| Total votes: 1,301,186 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Selection method
- See also: Nonpartisan election of judges
The 28 judges of the Michigan Court of Appeals are chosen in nonpartisan elections and must face re-election if they wish to continue serving. A full term on the court is six years. Candidates are placed on the ballot via nonpartisan primaries or by nominating petitions.[5] The process for filling vacancies on the appeals court is identical to that used by the supreme court. With the assistance of the judicial qualifications committee, the governor names a replacement to serve until the next general election.[5]
Qualifications
To be elected to the court, a judge must:
- be a qualified elector of his or her district;
- be licensed to practice law in the state;
- have at least five years of law practice experience;
- be under the age of 70.[5]
Sitting judges who reach age 70 are allowed to serve out the remainder of their term.[6]
Selection of the chief judge
The chief judge of the appeals court is selected by supreme court appointment to terms lasting two years.[5]
2012 election
- See also: Michigan judicial elections, 2012
Judge Beckering was re-elected after running unopposed in the general election on November 6, 2012.[7][8]
Michigan Supreme Court (2006)
2006 election
Beckering ran for a seat on the Michigan Supreme Court in 2006.
LWV Questionnaire
- Do you support public financing of judicial campaigns? Explain.
- I believe that public financing of judicial campaigns is well worth exploring. Candidates should be selected based upon their legal acumen and ethical integrity, not their financial or political backing. Our system is reliant upon fair and impartial jurists, and removing the financial pressures and potential influences may serve not only to eliminate the appearance of impropriety, but also foster top tier applicants who might otherwise not pursue the bench.
- Do you believe the composition of juries in district and circuit courts adequately and fairly reflects society at large? Explain.
- While the jury system largely represents society at large, there is definitely room for careful evaluation and improvement in ensuring that the demographics of the jury pool represent the demographics of the community. Our current majority of the Michigan Supreme Court, however, has banned its unconstitutional affirmative action efforts seeking to accomplish a jury pool reflective of the community.
- What can be done to provide individuals with wider and better access to legal help and the legal system?
- Non-profit organizations such as the Legal Assistance Center in Kent County, Michigan are an excellent start at providing individuals with better access to legal help and guidance. Legal aid organizations also support those who otherwise could not afford access to the judicial system. The Michigan Bar Association should continue to encourage lawyers to volunteer their time to pro bono work and/or contribute financially to legal aid organizations as part of their public duty.[9]
Biography
Education
Beckering earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan, where she graduated with distinction. She earned her J.D. from the University of Wisconsin, graduating cum laude.[3]
Professional career
Beckering was in private practice for 17 years before becoming a judge. She worked first for the law firm of McDermott, Will & Emery, P.C. in Chicago, Illinois, and later founded the law firm of Buchanan & Beckering, PLC. in Grand Rapids, Michigan.[3]
Associations
- Member, steering committee, Hillman Trial Advocacy Program
- Member, Michigan Supreme Court Committee on Model Civil Jury Instructions[3]
About the court
| Western District of Michigan |
|---|
| Sixth Circuit |
|
| Judgeships |
| Posts: 4 |
| Judges: 4 |
| Vacancies: 0 |
| Judges |
| Chief: Hala Jarbou |
| Active judges: Jane M. Beckering, Hala Yalda Jarbou, Robert Jonker, Paul Maloney Senior judges: |
The United States District Court for the Western 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.
Jurisdiction
The Western 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 Grand Rapids, courthouses also located in Kalamazoo, Lansing and Marquette in the Upper Peninsula.
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
- United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan
- United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan
- Biography from the Federal Judicial Center
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Congress.gov, "PN801 — Jane M. Beckering — The Judiciary," accessed July 14, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 The White House, "President Biden Names Fifth Round of Judicial Nominees," June 30, 2021
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Third District Court, "Judges: Biography of Judge Beckering"
- ↑ American Bar Association, "RATINGS OF ARTICLE III AND ARTICLE IV JUDICIAL NOMINEES 117TH CONGRESS," last updated September 13, 2021
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Michigan," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ Michigan Daily, "Washtenaw County judge announces early retirement," May 1, 2014
- ↑ Michigan Department of State, "Unofficial 2012 General Election Results: 3rd District Court of Appeals Judge"
- ↑ Michigan Department of State, "2012 Unofficial Michigan Primary Candidate Listing," July 31, 2012
- ↑ League of Women Voters: Supreme Court Campaign 2006
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: Janet Neff |
Western District of Michigan 2021-present |
Succeeded by: NA
|
Federal courts:
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan
State courts:
Michigan Supreme Court • Michigan Court of Appeals • Michigan Circuit Court • Michigan Court of Claims • Michigan District Courts • Michigan Municipal Courts • Michigan Probate Courts
State resources:
Courts in Michigan • Michigan judicial elections • Judicial selection in Michigan
