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Michael B. Thornton

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Michael B. Thornton

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United States Tax Court (senior status)
Tenure

2021 - Present

Years in position

4

Prior offices
United States Tax Court
Successor: Jeffrey Arbeit

Education

Bachelor's

University of Southern Mississippi, 1976

Graduate

University of Southern Mississippi, 1979

Law

Duke University Law School, 1982


Michael B. Thornton is an Article I federal judge on senior status with the United States Tax Court. He joined the court in 1998 after a nomination by President Bill Clinton (D). He was reappointed to the court by President Barack Obama (D) on August 7, 2013. Thornton assumed senior status on January 1, 2021.[1]

Thornton served as chief judge from June 1, 2012, to March 7, 2013, and from August 7, 2013, to May 31, 2016.[1][2]

Biography

Education

Thornton earned his B.S. and M.S. from University of Southern Mississippi, in 1976 and 1977, respectively. He later earned an M.A. in English literature from the University of Tennessee in 1979. Thornton earned a J.D. from the Duke University School of Law in 1982.[1]

Professional career

  • 1995-1998: Deputy Tax Legislative Counsel, United States Treasury Department
  • 1995: Attorney-Adviser, U.S. Treasury Department
  • 1995: Chief Minority Tax Counsel, U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means
  • 1988-1993: Tax Counsel, U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means
  • 1985-1988: Attorney, Miller & Chevalier, Chartered
  • 1983-1984: Law Clerk, Honorable Charles Clark
  • 1982-1983: Associate Attorney, Sutherland, Asbill and Brennan[1]

Awards and associations

Awards

  • Treasury Secretary's Annual Award, U.S. Department of the Treasury, 1997
  • Meritorious Service Award, U.S. Department of the Treasury, 1998[1]

Judicial career

Nomination Tracker
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Nominee Information
Name: Michael B. Thornton
Court: United States Tax Court
Progress
Confirmed 71 days after nomination.
ApprovedANominated: August 7, 2013
DefeatedAABA Rating:
Questionnaire:
DefeatedAHearing:
QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
DefeatedAReported:  
ApprovedAConfirmed: 2013

Tax Court

Thornton was nominated to the United States Tax Court by President Bill Clinton and was confirmed by the Senate. He joined the court on March 8, 1998.[1] On March 7, 2013, Thornton's first term expired, and he was appointed to a second fifteen-year term on August 7, 2013. He served as chief judge from June 1, 2012 to March 7, 2013 and returned to the position on August 7, 2013.[1]


See also

External links

Footnotes