M. Tia Johnson
M. Tia Johnson is a judge on United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. She was nominated to the court by President Joe Biden (D) on January 7, 2022, and confirmed by the United States Senate on December 15, 2022, by a vote of 76-20.[1][2] To see a full list of judges appointed by Joe Biden, click here.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces is an Article I federal trial court established by Congress under Article I of the U.S. Constitution. To learn more about the court, click here.
Prior to her confirmation, Johnson was a law professor with Georgetown Law School.[1]
Judicial nominations and appointments
United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (2022-present)
- See also: Federal judges nominated by Joe Biden
On January 7, 2022, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Johnson to the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December 15, 2022, by a vote of 76-20.[1][2] She received her judicial commission on January 3, 2023.[3] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.
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| Nominee Information |
| Name: M. Tia Johnson |
| Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces |
| Progress |
| Confirmed 342 days after nomination. |
 Nominated: January 7, 2022
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| ABA Rating: N/A
|
| Questionnaire: Questionnaire |
| Hearing: March 22, 2022
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| Hearing Transcript: Hearing Transcript |
| QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
| Reported: April 5, 2022
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| Confirmed: December 15, 2022
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| Vote: 76-20
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Confirmation vote
The U.S. Senate confirmed Johnson by a vote of 76-20 on December 15, 2022.[2] To see a full breakdown of the vote on the official U.S. Senate website, click here.
| Johnson confirmation vote (December 15, 2022) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Yea | Nay | No vote | ||||||
 Democratic |
48 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
 Republican |
26 | 20 | 4 | ||||||
 Independent |
2 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | 76 | 20 | 4 | ||||||
Senate committee hearing
The Senate Armed Services Committee held hearings on Johnson's nomination on March 22, 2022. The committee voted to advance Johnson's nomination to the full Senate on April 5, 2022.[2]
Nomination
On November 17, 2021, President Joe Biden (D) announced his intent to nominate Johnson to the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.[1] The president officially nominated Johnson on January 7, 2022.[2]
Johnson was nominated to replace Judge Scott Stucky, who assumed senior status on July 31, 2021.[2]
Biography
Education
Johnson earned an M.S. in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College. She earned a J.D. from Temple University. She earned LL.Ms from the Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School and from the University of Virginia School of Law.[1]
Professional career
- 2023-present: Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
- 2017-2023: Professor of law, Georgetown Law School
- Former director of the National Security Law LL.M Program
- Visiting fellow, Georgetown University’s Center on National Security and the Law
- Distinguished fellow, Center for National Security Law at the University of Virginia School of Law.
- Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- Senior Advisor to the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
- U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps[1]
About the court
| Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces |
|---|
|
| Judgeships |
| Posts: 5 |
| Judges: 5 |
| Vacancies: 0 |
| Judges |
| Chief: Kevin A. Ohlson |
| Active judges: Liam Hardy, M. Tia Johnson, Gregory Maggs, Kevin A. Ohlson, John E. Sparks Senior judges: |
The United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces is an Article I federal court that exercises worldwide appellate jurisdiction over members of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty and other persons subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice.[4]
Jurisdiction
The court has appellate jurisdiction over all appeals from the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, and Navy-Marine Corps Courts of Criminal Appeals. The court's primary jurisdiction is described in Article 67(a) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice as following:[4]
| “ |
The Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces shall review the record in –
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” |
Article 67(a) also specifies that the court's reviews are limited to issues of law. The court also has jurisdiction to consider petitions for extraordinary relief.[4]
Decisions by the court are subject to direct review by the Supreme Court. However, the court functions as gatekeeper of the Supreme Court unlike any other federal appeals court in the United States. Denials from petitions for review or relief in extraordinary petitions are currently not subject to review by the Supreme Court.[4]
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
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 The White House, "President Biden Announces Additional Nominees," November 17, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Congress.gov, "PN1657 — Musetta Tia Johnson — The Judiciary," accessed January 10, 2022
- ↑ U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, "Judges," accessed January 13, 2023
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, "Brochure," accessed April 23, 2021
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Scott Stucky |
United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces 2023-Present |
Succeeded by - |
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
