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Pamela A. Barker
2019 - Present
6
Pamela Barker is a judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. On April 12, 2018, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Barker to a seat on this court.[1] The U.S. Senate confirmed Barker on a 91-5 vote on June 12, 2019.[2] She received commission on June 18, 2019.[3] To see a full list of judges appointed by Donald Trump, click here.
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio 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.
Barker was a judge on the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas General Division in Cleveland, Ohio, from 2011 to 2019. She was appointed to the court by Governor John Kasich and assumed office on September 19, 2011.[4]
Judicial nominations, appointments, and elections
United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
- See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump
On April 12, 2018, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Barker to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.[1] The U.S. Senate confirmed Barker on a 91-5 vote on June 12, 2019.[2] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.
 |
| Nominee Information |
| Name: Pamela A. Barker |
| Court: United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio |
| Progress |
| Confirmed 426 days after nomination. |
 Nominated: April 12, 2018
|
| ABA Rating: Well Qualified
|
| Questionnaire: Questionnaire |
| Hearing: October 10, 2018
|
| QFRs: QFRs (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
| Reported: February 7, 2019
|
| Confirmed: June 12, 2019
|
| Vote: 91-5
|
Confirmation vote
The U.S. Senate confirmed Barker on June 12, 2019, on a vote of 91-5.[2] To see a full breakdown of the vote on the official U.S. Senate website, click here.
| Barker confirmation vote (June 12, 2019) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Yea | Nay | No vote | ||||||
 Democratic |
39 | 5 | 1 | ||||||
 Republican |
51 | 0 | 2 | ||||||
 Independent |
1 | 0 | 1 | ||||||
| Total | 91 | 5 | 4 | ||||||
Change in Senate rules
Barker was confirmed to a U.S. District Court under a new precedent the Senate established.
On April 3, 2019, the U.S. Senate voted 51-48 in favor of a change to chamber precedent lowering the maximum time allowed for debate on executive nominees to posts below the Cabinet level and on nominees to district court judgeships from 30 hours after invoking cloture to two.[5]
The change was passed under a procedure, often referred to as the nuclear option, that requires 51 votes rather than 60.[6]
It was the third use of the nuclear option in Senate history. In 2013, it was used to eliminate the 60-vote threshold to confirm presidential nominees, except those to the Supreme Court. In 2017, it was used to eliminate the 60-vote threshold required to confirm Supreme Court nominees.[7] For more, see Filibuster and reconciliation in the United States Congress.
Senate Judiciary Committee hearing
The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on Barker's nomination on October 10, 2018.[8]
The Senate Judiciary Committee favorably reported Barker's nomination on February 7, 2019.[9] Click here to see how the committee voted. Barker's nomination was one of 44 that Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) reported that day.
Nomination
Barker was nominated to succeed Judge Donald Nugent, who assumed senior status on January 1, 2017.[2]
At the sine die adjournment of the 115th Congress on January 3, 2019, the Senate returned Barker's nomination to President Trump.[10] Barker was one of 51 individuals the president re-nominated on January 23, 2019.[11]
The American Bar Association rated Barker well qualified for the position.[12] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas (2011-2019)
- See also: Judges appointed by John Kasich
Barker was a judge on the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas General Division in Cleveland, Ohio, from 2011 to 2019. She was appointed to the court by Governor John Kasich (R) and assumed office on September 19, 2011. She was elected to the court in November 2012.[4] She ran for re-election to the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas in 2014.
2014 election
- See also: Ohio judicial elections, 2014
Barker ran for re-election to the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas.
General: She defeated Sherrie Miday in the general election on November 4, 2014, receiving 52.9 percent of the vote.[13]
2012 election
Barker was elected to the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas. She defeated Colleen Ann Reali in the general election on November 6, winning 53.55% of the vote.[14][15]
Cleveland bar association ratings
According to the compiled results at Judge4Yourself.com, Barker received a rating of 3.75 out of 4 by local Cleveland bar associations in 2012. Those break down as:
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association: Good
- Cuyahoga Criminal Defense Lawyers Association: Excellent
- Norman S. Minor Bar Association: Excellent
- Ohio Women's Bar Association: Excellent[16]
Endorsements
- The Plain Dealer.[17]
Education
Barker received her undergraduate degree in political science from Kenyon College in 1979 and her J.D. from the Ohio State University in 1982.[4]
Professional career
- 2019-present: Judge, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
- 2011-2019: Judge, Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas General Division
- 2006-2011: Attorney, Bristol West Insurance Company/Farmers Insurance Exchange
- 2000-2011: Magistrate, Mayor’s Court and Juvenile Division, City of Brecksville
- 2000-2006: Of Counsel, Davis & Young
- 1996-2000: Attorney, Sole practitioner
- 1994-1996: In-house counsel, Progressive Insurance Company
- 1990-1994: Attorney, Sole practitioner
- 1985-1990: In-house counsel, Progressive Insurance Company
- 1983-1985: Associate attorney, Berkman, Gordon, Murray & Palda
- 1982: Admitted to the Ohio bar[4][18]
Elections
2010
Barker ran unopposed in the Republican primary. She was defeated in her bid for election to the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas by Lance T. Mason in the general election.[19][20]
Past elections
In 2005, Barker ran for judge on the Garfield Heights Municipal Court and in 2008, on the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas.[18]
Approach to the law
According to Barker's campaign website:
| “ | As a student of political philosophy and history, Pamela Barker is a strict constructionist believing that judges should not legislate from the bench but must follow the law as established by the duly elected representatives of the people. A woman of strong faith and integrity who believes that others should be treated as she would want to be treated and adheres to principal over expediency, Pamela Barker is aware that family and church are important places to instill and promote faith and Christian values and beliefs but that the trial court bench is not the appropriate forum for imposing those beliefs upon others.[18] - Judge Pamela A. Barker[21] | ” |
About the court
| Northern District of Ohio |
|---|
| Sixth Circuit |
|
| Judgeships |
| Posts: 11 |
| Judges: 10 |
| Vacancies: 1 |
| Judges |
| Chief: Sara Lioi |
| Active judges: John R. Adams, Pamela A. Barker, Bridget Brennan, J. Philip Calabrese, Charles Fleming, Jeffrey J. Helmick, James Knepp, Sara Lioi, Benita Pearson, David A. Ruiz Senior judges: |
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio is one of 94 United States district courts. The main courthouse is located in Cleveland, Ohio, along with other offices in Toledo, Akron, and Youngstown. 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 Northern District of Ohio has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.
The geographic jurisdiction of the Northern District of Ohio consists of all the following counties in the northern part of the state of Ohio.
There are two court divisions, each covering the following counties:
The Eastern Division, covering Ashland, Ashtabula, Carroll, Crawford, Columbiana, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Holmes, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Richland, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas and Wayne counties.
The Western Division, covering Allen, Auglaize, Defiance, Erie, Fulton, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Huron, Lucas, Marion, Mercer, Ottawa, Paulding, Putnam, Sandusky, Seneca, Van Wert, Williams, Wood and Wyandot counties.
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
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
- United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit
- Cuyahoga County, Ohio
- Ohio Courts of Common Pleas
- Judicial selection in Ohio
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Biography from the Federal Judicial Center
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
- United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit
- Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 White House, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Twelfth Wave of Judicial Nominees, Twelfth Wave of United States Attorneys, and Sixth Wave of United States Marshals," April 10, 2018
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Congress.gov, "PN216 — Pamela A. Barker — The Judiciary," accessed June 13, 2019
- ↑ Federal Judicial Center, "Barker, Pamela Ann," accessed June 21, 2019
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 The Supreme Court of Ohio & the Ohio Judicial System, "Press Release: Governor Appoints Barker to Cuyahoga Common Pleas Court," September 1, 2011
- ↑ The Hill, "GOP triggers 'nuclear option' to speed up Trump picks," April 3, 2019
- ↑ Axios, "Senate GOP invokes 'nuclear option' to speed up confirmations of Trump nominees," April 3, 2019
- ↑ NBC News, "McConnell to use 'nuclear option' to confirm lower-level nominees," April 2, 2019
- ↑ Congress.gov, "PN1827 — Pamela A. Barker — The Judiciary," accessed October 29, 2018
- ↑ U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, "Results of Executive Business Meeting," February 7, 2019
- ↑ 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
- ↑ WhiteHouse.gov, "Nominations Sent to the Senate," January 23, 2019
- ↑ American Bar Association, "Ratings of Article III and Article IV judicial nominees, 115th Congress," accessed October 29, 2018
- ↑ Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, "2014 Candidate List," February 26, 2014
- ↑ Ohio Secretary of State, "Official Election Results 11/6/2012: Court of Common Pleas Judge"
- ↑ Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, "Primary Election Candidates" Scroll to page 21
- ↑ Judge4Yourself.com, "2012 November General Election Judicial Candidate Ratings"
- ↑ Plain Dealer, "Plain Dealer endorsements for Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court General Division," September 29, 2012
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedbio - ↑ Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, "Unofficial 2010 General Election Results"
- ↑ Ohio Secretary of State, "2010 Court of Common Pleas candidates"
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio 2019-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas General Division 2011-2019 |
Succeeded by - |
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Active judges |
Chief Judge: Sara Lioi • John R. Adams (United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio judge) • Benita Pearson • Pamela A. Barker • Jeffrey J. Helmick • James Knepp (Ohio) • David A. Ruiz (Ohio) • Philip Calabrese • Bridget Brennan • Charles Fleming (Ohio) | ||
| Senior judges |
James G. Carr (Ohio) • Christopher Boyko • Peter Economus • James Gwin • Donald Nugent • Solomon Oliver • Dan Polster • Jack Zouhary • Patricia Gaughan • | ||
| Magistrate judges | William Baughman • Thomas Parker (Ohio) • Jonathan D. Greenberg • Darrell Clay • Amanda Knapp • Carmen Henderson • | ||
| Former Article III judges |
Ann Aldrich • Sam Bell (Ohio) • David Dowd • David Katz (Ohio) • Lesley Wells • Kathleen M. O'Malley • Alice Batchelder • Robert Krupansky • Leroy Contie • Hiram V. Willson • Charles Taylor Sherman • Martin Welker • Augustus Ricks • Francis Joseph Wing • Robert Walker Tayler • William Louis Day • John Milton Killits • John Hessin Clarke • David Westenhaver • Paul Jones (Ohio) • George Philip Hahn • Frank Kloeb • George White (Ohio) • Frank Battisti • James Connell • Emerich Freed • Ben Green • Girard Kalbfleisch • Alvin Krenzler • Thomas Lambros • John Manos • Paul Matia • Charles McNamee • Richard McQuade • William K. Thomas (Ohio federal judge) • Nicholas Walinski • Samuel West • Robert Wilkin • Don Young (Ohio) • Paul Weick • | ||
| Former Chief judges |
James G. Carr (Ohio) • Solomon Oliver • Paul Jones (Ohio) • Frank Kloeb • George White (Ohio) • Frank Battisti • James Connell • Girard Kalbfleisch • Thomas Lambros • Paul Matia • Charles McNamee • Patricia Gaughan • | ||
Federal courts:
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Northern District of Ohio, Southern District of Ohio • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Northern District of Ohio, Southern District of Ohio
State courts:
Ohio Supreme Court • Ohio District Courts of Appeal • Ohio Courts of Common Pleas • Ohio County Courts • Ohio Municipal Courts • Ohio Court of Claims
State resources:
Courts in Ohio • Ohio judicial elections • Judicial selection in Ohio
