Robert White (Michigan)

Eastern District of Michigan
	Sixth Circuit
Judgeships
	Posts: 15
	Judges: 14
	Vacancies: 1
Judges
	Chief: Stephen Murphy
	Active judges: Terrence Berg, Susan DeClercq, Mark Goldsmith, Jonathan Grey, Frances Kay Behm, Shalina Kumar, Matthew Frederick Leitman, Judith Ellen Levy, Thomas Ludington, Brandy McMillion, Laurie Michelson, Stephen Murphy, Linda V. Parker, Robert White; Senior judges:; Paul Borman, Robert Cleland, Gershwin Drain, Nancy Edmunds, Bernard Friedman, Denise Hood, David Lawson, George Steeh

Nomination Tracker
Nominee Information
	Name: Robert White
	Court: United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
Progress
	Confirmed 68 days after nomination.
	Nominated: February 1, 2024
	ABA Rating: Well qualified
	Questionnaire: Questionnaire
	Hearing: February 8, 2024
	Hearing Transcript: Hearing Transcript
	QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
	Reported: March 7, 2024
	Confirmed: April 9, 2024
	Vote: 58-42

Robert White is a judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. He was nominated to the court by President Joe Biden (D) on February 1, 2024, and confirmed by the United States Senate on April 9, 2024, by a vote of 58-42.^[1]^[2]^[3] White 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.

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan 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.

Prior to joining the court, White was an Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.^[2]

Judicial nominations and appointments

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

See also: Federal judges nominated by Joe Biden

On January 10, 2024, President Joe Biden (D) announced his intent to nominate White to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.^[2] The president officially nominated White on February 1, 2024.^[1] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.

Confirmation vote

The U.S. Senate confirmed White by a vote of 58-42 on April 9, 2024.^[1] To see a full breakdown of the vote on the official U.S. Senate website, click here.

White confirmation vote (April 9, 2024)
Party	Yea	Nay	No vote
Democratic	48	0	0
Republican	7	42	0
Independent	3	0	0
Total	58^[4]	42	0

Senate Judiciary Committee hearing

The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on White's nomination on February 8, 2024. White was reported to the full Senate on March 7, 2024, after a 14-7 committee vote.^[5]

Nomination

On January 10, 2024, President Joe Biden (D) announced his intent to nominate White to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. The president officially nominated White on February 1, 2024.^[1] Click here for a list of other nominees who have been nominated by President Joe Biden.

The American Bar Association (ABA) rated White well qualified.^[6] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.

White was nominated to replace Judge Paul Borman, who assumed senior status on August 1, 2023.^[7]

Biography

Education

White earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan in 2007 and a law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2010.^[3]

Professional career

2024-Present: Judge, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
2018-2024: Assistant U.S. attorney, Eastern District of Michigan
- 2022-2024: Digital asset coordinator
- 2018-2024: Lead attorney, Detroit Dark Web Taskforce
- 2018-2024: Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force
2014-2018: Assistant U.S. attorney, Western District of Texas
- 2015-2018: Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force
2010-2014: Private practice^[3]

About the court

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan is one of 94 United States district courts. It was established by an act of Congress on December 24, 1863. 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.

Jurisdiction

The Counties of the Eastern District of Michigan (click for larger map)

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

The District Court is based in Detroit, with courthouses also located in Ann Arbor, Bay City, Flint, and Port Huron.

The geographic jurisdiction of the Eastern District of Michigan consists of all the following counties in the eastern part of the state of Michigan.

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.