Robert Ballou
2023 - Present
2
Robert S. Ballou is judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia. he was nominated to the court by President Joe Biden (D) on July 13, 2022, and confirmed by the United States Senate on March 7, 2023, by a vote of 59 - 37.[1][2][3][4] Ballou was one of 235 Article III judges nominated by President Joe Biden (D) and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. To see a full list of judges appointed by Joe Biden, click here.
Ballou was a federal magistrate judge for the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia.[1]
The United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia 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.
Judicial nominations and appointments
United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia (Article III)
- See also: Federal judges nominated by Joe Biden
On July 13, 2022, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Ballou to the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia. Ballou's nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2023.[5] The president renominated Ballou on January 23, 2023.[3] Ballou received commission on March 9, 2023.[6]To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.
Nominee Information |
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Name: Robert Ballou |
Court: United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia |
Progress |
Confirmed 237 days after nomination. |
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Questionnaire: Questionnaire |
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Hearing Transcript: Hearing Transcript |
QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
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Confirmation vote
The U.S. Senate confirmed Ballou by a vote of 59 - 37 on March 7, 2023.[3] To see a full breakdown of the vote on the official U.S. Senate website, click here.
Robert Ballou confirmation vote (March 7, 2023) | |||||||||
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Party | Yea | Nay | No vote | ||||||
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45 | 0 | 3 | ||||||
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11 | 37 | 1 | ||||||
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3 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
Total | 59 | 37 | 4 |
Senate Judiciary Committee hearing
In a committee hearing on February 9, 2023, Ballou was reported to the full Senate, after a 16-5 committee vote.[4] Click here for a list of other nominees awaiting a committee hearing.
The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on Ballou's nomination on November 15, 2022. Ballou was reported to the full Senate on December 8, 2022, after a 16-6 committee vote.[7]
Nomination
President Biden nominated Ballou on July 13, 2022, to replace Judge James Jones, who assumed senior status on August 30, 2021.[5]
Ballou's nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2023.[8] The president renominated Ballou on January 23, 2023.[3]
The American Bar Association (ABA) rated Ballou Well Qualified.[9] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.
United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia (Magistrate, 2011-present)
Ballou began serving as a U.S. magistrate judge for the Western District of Virginia in 2011.[1]
Biography
Education
Ballou obtained a B.A. from the University of Virginia in 1984 and a J.D. from the University of Virginia in 1987.[1]
Professional career
- 2023-present: Judge, United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia
- 2011-2023: Federal magistrate judge, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia
- 1992-2011: Partner, Johnson, Ayers & Matthews in Roanoke, Virginia
- 1988-1991: Associate, Christian, Barton, Epps, Brent & Chappell in Richmond, Virginia
- 1987-1988: Law clerk to Judge Peter Beer, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana[1]
About the court
Western District of Virginia |
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Fourth Circuit |
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Judgeships |
Posts: 4 |
Judges: 4 |
Vacancies: 0 |
Judges |
Chief: Elizabeth K. Dillon |
Active judges: Robert S. Ballou, Thomas T. Cullen, Elizabeth K. Dillon, Jasmine Yoon Senior judges: |
The United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia is one of 94 United States district courts. When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit based in downtown Richmond, Virginia at the Lewis F. Powell Federal Courthouse.
The Western District of Virginia has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.
There are seven court divisions, each covering the following counties and cities:
The Abingdon Division, covering Buchanan, Russell, Smyth, Tazewell and Washington counties, in addition to the cities of Bristol.
The Big Stone Gap Division, covering Dickenson, Lee, Scott and Wise counties, in addition to the cities of Norton.
The Charlottesville Division, covering Albemarle, Culpeper, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Madison, Nelson, Orange and Rappahannock counties, in addition to the cities of Charlottesville.
The Danville Division, covering Charlotte, Halifax, Henry, Patrick and Pittsylvania counties, in addition to the cities of Danville, Martinsville and South Boston.
The Harrisonburg Division, covering Augusta, Bath, Clarke, Frederick, Highland, Page, Rockingham and Shenandoah and Warren counties, in addition to the cities of Harrisonburg, Staunton, Waynesboro and Winchester.
The Lynchburg Division, covering Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Buckingham, Campbell, Cumberland and Rockbridge counties, in addition to the cities of Bedford, Buena Vista, Lexington and Lynchburg.
The Roanoke Division, covering Alleghany, Bland, Botetourt, Carroll, Craig, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Pulaski, Roanoke, and Wythe counties, in addition to the cities of Clifton Forge, Covington, Galax, Radford, Roanoke and Salem.
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
- Search Google News for this topic
- United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia
- Biography from the Federal Judicial Center
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 The White House, "President Biden Names Twenty-Second Round of Judicial Nominees," July 13, 2022
- ↑ Committee on the Judiciary, "Nominations," accessed November 18, 2022
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Congress.gov, "PN166 — Robert Stewart Ballou — The Judiciary," accessed January 23, 2023
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Committee on the Judiciary, "Results of Executive Business Meeting – February 9, 2023," accessed February 9, 2023
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Congress.gov, "PN2372 — Robert Stewart Ballou — The Judiciary," accessed July 18, 2022
- ↑ Federal Judicial Center, "Ballou, Robert Stewart," March 9, 2023
- ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee, "Results of Executive Business Meeting – December 8, 2022," December 8, 2022
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ American Bar Association, "RATINGS OF ARTICLE III AND ARTICLE IV JUDICIAL NOMINEES 117th Congress," last updated December 12, 2022
Political offices | ||
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Preceded by James Jones |
United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia 2023-Present |
Succeeded by - |
Preceded by - |
United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia 2011 |
Succeeded by - |
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Commissioned in 2025 | |||
Commissioned in 2024 |
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Commissioned in 2021 |
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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