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Mark Norris

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Mark Norris
Image of Mark Norris

Nonpartisan

United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
Tenure

2018 - Present

Years in position

6

Prior offices
Tennessee State Senate District 32

Compensation

Base salary

$22,667/year

Per diem

$220/legislative day

Education

Bachelor's

Colorado College, 1977

Law

University of Denver, 1980

Personal
Birthplace
Akron, Ohio
Profession
Attorney


Mark Saalfield Norris, Sr. is a judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee. He was nominated to the court by President Donald Trump (R) on January 8, 2018, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on October 11, 2018, by a vote of 51-44.[1][2] To see a full list of judges appointed by Donald Trump, click here.

The United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee 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.

Norris is a former Republican member of the Tennessee State Senate, representing District 32 from 2001 to 2018. He served as the state Senate majority leader from 2007 to 2018.[1]

Judicial nominations and appointments

United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee (2018-present)

See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump

Norris was nominated to the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee by President Donald Trump (R) on January 8, 2018. The U.S. Senate confirmed Norris on October 11, 2018, by a vote of 51-44.[2] He received commission on November 8, 2018.[1] To read more about the federal nomination process, click here.

Nomination Tracker
Fedbadgesmall.png
Nominee Information
Name: Mark Saalfield Norris Sr.
Court: United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
Progress
Confirmed 276 days after nomination.
ApprovedANominated: January 8, 2018
ApprovedAABA Rating: Substantial Majority Qualified, Minority Not Qualified
Questionnaire: Questionnaire
DefeatedAHearing:
QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
ApprovedAReported: January 18, 2018 
ApprovedAConfirmed: October 11, 2018
ApprovedAVote: 51-44

Confirmation vote

The U.S. Senate confirmed Norris on October 11, 2018, on a vote of 51-44.[2] To see a full breakdown of the vote on the official U.S. Senate website, click here.

Mark Norris confirmation vote (October 11, 2018)
Party Yea Nay No vote
Electiondot.png Democratic 0 42 4
Ends.png Republican 51 0 1
Grey.png Independent 0 2 0
Total 51 44 5

Senate Judiciary Committee hearing

Norris had his hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on January 18, 2018. The committee voted to advance Norris' nomination to the full Senate on January 18, 2018.[2]

Nomination

Norris was nominated to replace Judge J. Daniel Breen, who assumed senior status on March 18, 2017.

The American Bar Association rated Norris qualified by a substantial majority and not qualified by a minority for the position.[3] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.

United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee (2017 nomination)

See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump

President Trump nominated Norris on July 13, 2017, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee. Norris' nomination was returned to the president on January 3, 2018, under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.[4][5] To read more about the federal nomination process, click here.

Senate Judiciary Committee hearing

The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on Norris' nomination November 1, 2017.[6]

Nomination

Norris was nominated to replace Judge J. Daniel Breen, who assumed senior status on March 18, 2017.

The American Bar Association rated Norris qualified by a substantial majority and not qualified by a minority for the position.[7] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.

Early life and education

Norris was born in Akron, Ohio, in 1955. He graduated from Colorado College with a B.A. in 1977. He obtained a J.D. from the University of Denver Law School in 1980.[1]

Professional career

Elections

2016

See also: Tennessee State Senate elections, 2016

Elections for the Tennessee State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election was held on August 4, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was April 7, 2016.

Incumbent Mark Norris ran unopposed in the Tennessee State Senate District 32 general election.[8][9]

Tennessee State Senate, District 32 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Mark Norris Incumbent (unopposed)
Source: Tennessee Secretary of State



Incumbent Mark Norris ran unopposed in the Tennessee State Senate District 32 Republican primary.[10][11]

Tennessee State Senate, District 32 Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Mark Norris Incumbent (unopposed)

2012

See also: Tennessee State Senate elections, 2012

Norris ran in the 2012 election for Tennessee State Senate District 32. Norris defeated Woody Degan in the Republican primary on August 2, 2012. He was unchallenged in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[12]

Tennessee State Senate, District 32 Republican Primary, 2012
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngMark Norris Incumbent 88.9% 26,592
Woody Degan 11.1% 3,319
Total Votes 29,911

2008

On Nov. 4, 2008, Norris won re-election to the 32nd District Seat in the Tennessee State Senate.[13]

Norris raised $193,471 for his campaign.[14]

Tennessee State Senate, District 32 (2008)
Candidates Votes Percent
Green check mark transparent.png Mark Norris (R) 56,866 100%

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Mark Norris campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2016Tennessee State Senate, District 32Won $750,594 N/A**
2012Tennessee State Senate, District 32Won $291,343 N/A**
2008Tennessee State Senate, District 32Won $193,471 N/A**
2004Tennessee State Senate, District 32Won $249,811 N/A**
2000Tennessee State Senate, District 32Won $63,148 N/A**
Grand total$1,548,367 N/A**
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

About the court

Western District of Tennessee
Sixth Circuit
TN-WD.gif
Judgeships
Posts: 5
Judges: 4
Vacancies: 1
Judges
Chief: Sheryl H. Lipman
Active judges: Stanley Anderson, Sheryl H. Lipman, Mark Norris, Thomas Lee Robinson Parker

Senior judges:
J. Daniel Breen, John T. Fowlkes, Samuel Mays, Jon McCalla, James Dale Todd


The United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee is one of 94 United States district courts. The Western Division's main office is in Memphis, Tennessee. 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.

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

There are two court divisions, each covering the following counties:

The Eastern Division, covering Benton, Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Decatur, Dyer, Gibson, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Lake, Madison, McNairy, Obion, Perry and Weakley counties.

The Western Division, covering Fayette, Lauderdale, Shelby and Tipton counties.

Court locations for the Western District are located in Memphis, Jackson, and Dyersburg, Tennessee.

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.

State legislative tenure

Committee assignments

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Norris served on the following committees:

2013-2014

In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Norris served on the following committees:

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Norris served on these committees:

2009-2010

In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Norris served on these committees:

Issues

Redistricting

In November 2010, Norris filed five bills to be presented in the 2011 session. All but one dealt with redistricting, a process that requires lawmakers to redraw legislative districts every decade after the U.S. Census numbers are in.

His grouping of bills generally "(clarify) provisions concerning districts, terms and vacancies prior to November 2012 elections," according to bill summaries.[15]

Tort reform

Norris sponsored a bill to reform tort procedure that Gov. Bill Haslam (R) suggested and supported. The Senate Judiciary Committee kept the tort reform bill on track in late April in the 2011 session, passing the controversial bill 6-3 along party lines.

The committee considered several amendments and adopted those that Norris considered friendly. Norris carried the bill for the administration as majority leader in the Senate.

The amendments approved in late April 2011 did little to change the thrust of the bill. They dealt with issues such as proper venue in a case, allowing for ordinary alteration of records and clarifying other language in the bill. The committee moved to lump four acceptable amendments into one for the purpose of simplification.

The latest version of the bill provided for non-economic damages in civil cases to be capped at $750,000, with a $1 million cap applicable in catastrophic cases.[16]

The measure passed and Gov. Haslam signed it on June 16, 2011.[17]

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.


Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Tennessee

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Tennessee scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.








2018

In 2018, the 110th Tennessee General Assembly, second session, was in session January 9 to April 27.

Legislators are scored on their votes on social issues.
Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to small business issues.
Legislators are scored on their votes on business issues.
Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
  • Tennesseans for Student Success House and Senate (select year on the side pull-down menu)
Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to education.
Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.


2017


2016


2015


2014


2013


2012


2011

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Federal Judicial Center, "Norris, Mark Saalfield, Sr.," accessed October 14, 2018
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Congress.gov, "PN1419 — Mark Saalfield Norris Sr. — The Judiciary," accessed October 14, 2018
  3. ↑ American Bar Association, "Ratings of Article III and Article IV judicial nominees," accessed April 29, 2020
  4. ↑ United States Congress, "PN 748 — Mark Saalfield Norris Sr. — The Judiciary," accessed July 14, 2017
  5. ↑ 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. Congressional Research Service, "Senate Consideration of Presidential Nominations: Committee and Floor Procedure," April 11, 2017
  6. ↑ The White House, "President Donald J. Trump announces fifth wave of judicial candidates," July 13, 2017
  7. ↑ American Bar Association, "Ratings of Article III and Article IV judicial nominees," accessed April 29, 2020
  8. ↑ The New York Times, "Election 2016," accessed November 11, 2016
  9. ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "2016 general election results - Tennessee State Senate," accessed January 19, 2017
  10. ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "Candidate Petitions Filed as of April 8, 2016 Noon Qualifying Deadline," accessed April 11, 2016
  11. ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "August 4, 2016 Unofficial Election Results," accessed August 4, 2016
  12. ↑ Tennessee Department of State - Elections, "List of 2012 Candidates," accessed July 5, 2012
  13. ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "2008 Tennessee General election results," accessed April 18, 2014
  14. ↑ Follow the Money, "General Election Results," accessed April 18, 2014
  15. ↑ TNReport, "Early Bird Gets the Bill," November 29, 2010
  16. ↑ TNReport, "Haslam’s Tort Reform Plan Advances," April 27, 2011
  17. ↑ Frost Brown Todd, LLC, "Tort Reform: The Verdict Is In," August 5, 2011
  18. ↑ Tennessee Bar Association, "Nashville Chamber Releases 2015 Legislative Scorecard," accessed November 10, 2015
  19. ↑ Tennessee Bar Association, "Nashville Chamber Releases 2015 Legislative Scorecard," accessed November 10, 2015

Political offices
Preceded by
- 		United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
2018-Present		 Succeeded by
-
Preceded by
- 		Tennessee State Senate District 32
2001-2018		 Succeeded by
-



Tennessee courts

Federal courts:

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Tennessee, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Tennessee, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee

State courts:

Tennessee Supreme Court • Tennessee Court of Appeals • Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals • Tennessee Circuit Court • Tennessee Chancery Courts • Tennessee Criminal Court • Tennessee Probate Court • Tennessee General Sessions Court • Tennessee Juvenile Court • Tennessee Municipal Court

State resources:

Courts in Tennessee • Tennessee judicial elections • Judicial selection in Tennessee

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