Leslie Abrams Gardner
2014 - Present
10
Leslie Abrams Gardner is the chief judge for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia. Prior to her confirmation to the court, she was an assistant United States attorney in the Northern District of Georgia. On March 11, 2014, President Barack Obama nominated Abrams to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia.[1] She was the first female black federal judge in Georgia.[2] Abrams was confirmed by the United States Senate on November 18, 2014, on a vote of 100-0.[3] In 2024, Gardner became the chief judge of the court.[4]
Education and early life
Gardner earned her B.A. from Brown University in 1997 and her J.D. from Yale University School of Law in 2002.[1]
Professional career
- 2014 - Present: Judge, United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
- 2024 - Present: Chief judge
- 2010-2014: Assistant United States attorney, Northern District of Georgia
- 2007-2010: Attorney, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher, and Flom LLP
- 2006-2007: Attorney, Kilpatrick Stockton LLP
- 2003-2006: Attorney, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher, and Flom LLP
- 2002-2003: Law clerk, Honorable Marvin Garbis, United States District Court for the District of Maryland[1]
Judicial career
Possible Joe Biden nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court
On January 27, 2022, United States Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer officially announced he would retire at the start of the court's summer recess, which typically took place in late June or early July.[5][6] NBC News had previously reported the retirement on January 26.[7] On February 15, Biden announced he would nominate Ketanji Brown Jackson.[8]
President Joe Biden (D) did not announce a list of nominees he was considering. During the retirement announcement, Biden said that: "The person I will nominate will be someone of extraordinary qualifications, character, experience and integrity. And that person will be the first Black woman ever nominated to the United States Supreme Court."[9]
Gardner was mentioned by two or more media outlets as a possible nominee to fill Breyer's seat on the court.[10][11] Click here to read more about the vacancy and nomination process.
Middle District of Georgia
 |
| Nominee Information |
| Name: Leslie Joyce Abrams[12] |
| Court: Middle District of Georgia |
| Progress |
| Confirmed 252 days after nomination. |
 Nominated: March 11, 2014
|
| ABA Rating: Majority Qualified, Minority Not Qualified
|
| Questionnaire: Questionnaire |
| Hearing: May 13, 2014
|
| QFRs: QFRs (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
| Reported: June 19, 2014
|
| Confirmed: November 18, 2014
|
| Vote: 100-0
|
Leslie Joyce Abrams was nominated by President Barack Obama to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia on March 11, 2014.[13] The vacancy was created when Willie Sands took senior status on April 12, 2014.
Abrams was rated Majority Qualified, Minority Not Qualified by the American Bar Association.[14]
The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing for Abrams on May 13, 2014.[15] The Senate Judiciary Committee reported Abrams to the full Senate on June 19, 2014, on a voice vote.[16]
The United States Senate confirmed Abrams on November 18, 2014, on a vote of 100-0.[3]
Awards and associations
Awards
- 2013: United States Attorney's Award for Performance as a Community Outreach Coordinator
- 2012: Young Leaders Conference, Council for Italy and the United States
- 2007: Selected for LEAD Atlanta Class of 2007
- 1999: Earl Warren Legal Training Fellowship
- 1997-1998: Rackham Merit Fellowship
- 1996: Institute for the Recruitment of Teachers Fellowship
- 1995: Mellon Minority Undergraduate Fellowship
Associations
- 2012-Present: Board of trustees, Central United Methodist Church
- 2011-2013: Barrister, American Inns of Court, Bleckley Inn
- 2008-2010: Board of directors, YWCA of the National Capital Area
- 2009-2010: Secretary
- 2008-2010: Associate trustee, Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs
- 1996-Present: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated[17]
See also
- United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
- United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Biography of Judge Gardner from the Federal Judicial Center
- United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia website
- The White House, "President Obama Nominates Leslie Joyce Abrams to Serve on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia," March 11, 2014
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The White House, "President Obama Nominates Leslie Joyce Abrams to Serve on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia," March 11, 2014
- ↑ ajc.com, "Obama nominates Leslie Abrams — Stacey’s sister — for federal judgeship," March 11, 2014
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Library of Congress, "Nomination: PN1515-113," accessed November 18, 2014
- ↑ The Federal Judicial Center, "Gardner, Leslie Abrams," accessed July 17, 2024
- ↑ United States Supreme Court, "Letter to President," January 27, 2022
- ↑ YouTube, "President Biden Delivers Remarks on the Retirement of Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer," January 27, 2022
- ↑ NBC News, "Justice Stephen Breyer to retire from Supreme Court, paving way for Biden appointment," January 26, 2022
- ↑ White House, "President Biden Nominates Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to Serve as Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court," February 25, 2022
- ↑ YouTube, "President Biden Delivers Remarks on the Retirement of Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer," January 27, 2022
- ↑ CNN, "Biden said he'd put a Black woman on the Supreme Court. Here's who he may pick to replace Breyer," January 26, 2022
- ↑ Twitter, "Fox News: Biden Potential Supreme Court Nominees," January 26, 2022
- ↑ At the time of her nomination and commission, Gardner's name was Leslie Joyce Abrams.
- ↑ At the time of her nomination and commission, Gardner's name was Leslie Joyce Abrams.
- ↑ American Bar Association, "RATINGS OF ARTICLE III JUDICIAL NOMINEES 113TH CONGRESS," accessed March 19, 2014
- ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee, "Judicial Nomination," May 13, 2014
- ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee, "Results of Executive Business Meeting - June 19 2014," June 19, 2014
- ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee, "Questions for the Nominee," accessed March 19 ,2014
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United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia 2014-Present |
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