Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.

Jerry Blackwell

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Jerry Blackwell
Image of Jerry Blackwell

Nonpartisan

United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
Tenure

2022 - Present

Years in position

2

Predecessor

Education

Bachelor's

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 1984

Law

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 1987

Jerry Blackwell is a judge on the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. He was nominated to the court by President Joe Biden (D) on June 15, 2022, and confirmed by the United States Senate on December 7, 2022, by a vote of 51-43.[1] Blackwell 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 District of Minnesota 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 his confirmation, Blackwell was a founding partner of the law firm Blackwell Burke.[2]

Judicial nominations and appointments

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

See also: Federal judges nominated by Joe Biden

On June 15, 2022, President Joe Biden (D) announced his intent to nominate Blackwell to the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. He officially nominated Blackwell the same day. He was confirmed by a 51-43 vote of the U.S. Senate on December 7, 2022.[2][1] Blackwell received commission on December 20, 2022.[3] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.

Nomination Tracker
Fedbadgesmall.png
Nominee Information
Name: Jerry Blackwell
Court: United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
Progress
Confirmed 175 days after nomination.
ApprovedANominated: June 15, 2022
ApprovedAABA Rating: Well qualified
Questionnaire: Questionnaire
ApprovedAHearing: July 27, 2022
Hearing Transcript: Hearing Transcript
QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
ApprovedAReported: September 15, 2022 
ApprovedAConfirmed: December 7, 2022
ApprovedAVote: 51-43


Confirmation vote

The U.S. Senate confirmed Blackwell by a vote of 51-43 on December 7, 2022.[1] To see a full breakdown of the vote on the official U.S. Senate website, click here.

Blackwell confirmation vote (December 7, 2022)
Party Yea Nay No vote
Electiondot.png Democratic 44 0 4
Ends.png Republican 5 43 2
Grey.png Independent 2 0 0
Total 51 43 6

Senate Judiciary Committee hearing

The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on Blackwell's nomination on July 27, 2022. He was reported to the full Senate on September 15, 2022, after a 13-8-1 committee vote.[4]

Nomination

On June 15, 2022, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Blackwell to the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.[1]

Blackwell was nominated to replace Judge Susan Richard Nelson, who assumed senior status on December 31, 2021.[1]

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

Biography

Education

Blackwell earned a B.S. and J.D. from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, in 1984 and 1987, respectively.[2]

Professional career

About the court

District of Minnesota
Eighth Circuit
District of Minnesota-seal.png
Judgeships
Posts: 7
Judges: 7
Vacancies: 0
Judges
Chief: Patrick Schiltz
Active judges:
Jerry Blackwell, Nancy E. Brasel, Jeffrey M. Bryan, Katherine M. Menendez, Laura Provinzino, Patrick Schiltz, Eric Tostrud

Senior judges:
Donald Alsop, Michael James Davis, David Doty, Joan Ericksen, Donovan Frank, Paul Magnuson, Ann Montgomery, Susan Richard Nelson, John Tunheim, Wilhelmina M. Wright


The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota is one of 94 United States district courts. It was established by an act of Congress on March 17, 1849. The main headquarters of the court is based in Minneapolis at the Warren E. Berger Federal Building and Courthouse along with other locations in Saint Paul, Duluth, and Fergus Falls. When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, based in downtown St. Louis, Missouri, at the Thomas F. Eagleton Federal Courthouse and Building.

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

The jurisdiction of the District of Minnesota consists of all the counties in the state of Minnesota.

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. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Congress.gov, "PN2266 — Jerry W. Blackwell — The Judiciary," accessed June 16, 2022
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 The White House, "President Biden Names Nineteenth Round of Judicial Nominees," June 15, 2022
  3. ↑ Federal Judicial Center, "Blackwell, Jerry Wayne," December 21, 2022
  4. ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee, "Results of Executive Business Meeting – September 15, 2022," September 15, 2022
  5. ↑ American Bar Association, "RATINGS OF ARTICLE III AND ARTICLE IV JUDICIAL NOMINEES 117TH CONGRESS," Last updated July 26, 2022

Political offices
Preceded by
Susan Richard Nelson 		United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
2022-Present		 Succeeded by
-

Minnesota courts

Federal courts:

Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Minnesota • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Minnesota

State courts:

Minnesota Supreme Court • Minnesota Court of Appeals • Minnesota District Courts • Minnesota Problem-Solving Courts • Minnesota Tax Court • Minnesota Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals

State resources:

Courts in Minnesota • Minnesota judicial elections • Judicial selection in Minnesota



Retrieved from "https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Jerry_Blackwell&oldid=10255859"