Susan Bazis

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Susan Bazis
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Nonpartisan
United States District Court for the District of Nebraska
Tenure
2024 - Present
Years in position
1
Predecessor: John Gerrard (Nonpartisan)
Prior offices:
United States District Court for the District of Nebraska
Years in office: 2017 - 2024
Education
Bachelor's
University of Nebraska, Omaha, 1990
Law
Creighton University School of Law, 1993


Susan Bazis is a judge on the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska. She was nominated to the court by President Joe Biden (D) on January 10, 2024, and confirmed by the United States Senate on April 9, 2024, by a vote of 78-21.[1][2][3][4] Bazis 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 District of Nebraska 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, Bazis was a federal magistrate judge for the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska.[5]

Judicial nominations and appointments

United States District Court for the District of Nebraska

See also: Federal judges nominated by Joe Biden

On January 10, 2024, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Bazis to the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska.[2] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.

Nomination Tracker
Fedbadgesmall.png
Nominee Information
Name: Susan Bazis
Court: United States District Court for the District of Nebraska
Progress
Confirmed 90 days after nomination.
ApprovedANominated: January 10, 2024
ApprovedAABA Rating: Well Qualified
Questionnaire: Questionnaire
ApprovedAHearing: January 24, 2024
Hearing Transcript: Hearing Transcript
QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
ApprovedAReported: February 29, 2024 
ApprovedAConfirmed: April 9, 2024
ApprovedAVote: 78-21


Confirmation vote

The U.S. Senate confirmed Bazis by a vote of 78-21 on April 9, 2024.[3] To see a full breakdown of the vote on the official U.S. Senate website, click here.

Bazis confirmation vote (April 9, 2024)
Party Yea Nay No vote
Electiondot.png Democratic 48 0 1
Ends.png Republican 27 21 0
Grey.png Independent 3 0 0
Total 78[6] 21 1

Senate Judiciary Committee hearing

The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on Bazis' nomination on January 24, 2024. Bazis was reported to the full Senate on February 29, 2024, after a 18-3 committee vote.[7] Click here for a list of other nominees awaiting a committee vote.

Nomination

On December 19, 2023, President Joe Biden (D) announced his intent to nominate Bazis to the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska. The president officially nominated Bazis on January 10, 2024. Click here for a list of other nominees who have been nominated by President Joe Biden.

Bazis was nominated to replace Judge John Gerrard, who assumed senior status on February 6, 2023.[8][5]

The American Bar Association (ABA) rated Bazis well qualified.[9] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.

Bazis was nominated to replace Judge John Gerrard, who assumed senior status on February 6, 2023.[8][5]

Biography

Education

Bazis earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska Omaha in 1990 and a law degree from Creighton University School of Law in 1993.[4]

Professional career

About the court

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

The jurisdiction of the District of Nebraska consists of all the counties in the state of Nebraska.

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.


Federal magistrate judge

District of Nebraska

Bazis served as a federal magistrate judge with the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska from January 1, 2017, to April 10, 2024.[5]

Elections

2016

See also: Nebraska local trial court judicial elections, 2016

Nebraska held retention elections for local judicial offices on November 8, 2016. The filing deadline for candidates who wished to run for retention was August 1, 2016.[10] Susan Bazis was retained in the 4th County Court Judicial District, Nebraska, Seat 4 election with 72.91 percent of the vote. [11]

4th County Court Judicial District, Nebraska, Seat 4, 2016
Name Yes votes
Green check mark transparent.pngSusan Bazis72.91%
Source: Nebraska Secretary of State, "Unofficial Results: General Election - November 8, 2016: Judicial," accessed November 9, 2016

2010

See also: Nebraska judicial elections, 2010

Bazis was retained to the 4th County Court in 2010.[12]

Judicial selection method

See also: Assisted appointment

Judges of the Nebraska County Courts are each appointed to six-year terms.[13] Judges are re-elected in retention elections. To serve on this court, a judge must be a U.S. citizen, a district resident, 30 years of age or older, and a member of the state bar. They must also have five years of experience in state practice.[14]

2012 judicial performance evaluation

Every two years, the Nebraska State Bar Association compiles responses from lawyers to evaluate judges in the state. Subjects are rated in seven categories, then a determination is made for whether the judge should be retained. The seven categories considered are: legal analysis; impartiality; attentiveness; opinions; judicial temperament and demeanor; appropriate communication; and timeliness.

95.2 percent of respondents stated that Judge Bazis should be retained in office. To read the full evaluation, see: Nebraska State Bar Association, 2012 Evaluation Results.

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ The White House, "President Biden Names Forty-Third Round of Judicial Nominees," December 19, 2023
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 The White House, "Nominations Press Release Attached," January 10, 2024
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Congress.gov, "PN1291 — Susan M. Bazis — The Judiciary," April 9, 2024
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 The Federal Judicial Center, "Bazis, Susan Mason," accessed April 10, 2024
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Omaha World-Herald, "Judge, Omaha lawyer to join state’s federal bench," June 17, 2016
  6. ↑ Note: The bolded number reflects the largest number.
  7. ↑ The Senate Judiciary Committee, "Results of Executive Business Meeting – February 29, 2024," February 29, 2024
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Biography from Federal Judicial Center
  9. ↑ American Bar Association, "STANDING COMMITTEE ON THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY," accessed January 30, 2024
  10. ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "2016 Election Calendar," accessed December 7, 2015
  11. ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "Judicial Candidate List for retention in office," August 1, 2016
  12. ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "Judges running for retention"
  13. ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "Sample Ballot," November 2, 2010
  14. ↑ American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Nebraska; Limited Jurisdiction Courts," archived October 3, 2014

Political offices
Preceded by
John Gerrard 		United States District Court for the District of Nebraska
2024-Present		 Succeeded by
-
Preceded by
- 		United States District Court for the District of Nebraska
2017-2024		 Succeeded by
-


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Nebraska courts

Federal courts:

Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Nebraska • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Nebraska

State courts:

Nebraska Supreme Court • Nebraska Court of Appeals • Nebraska District Courts • Nebraska County Courts • Nebraska Separate Juvenile Courts • Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court • Nebraska Problem-Solving Courts

State resources:

Courts in Nebraska • Nebraska judicial elections • Judicial selection in Nebraska

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