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Tana Lin

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Tana Lin
Image of Tana Lin

Nonpartisan

United States District Court for the Western District of Washington
Tenure

2021 - Present

Years in position

3

Education

Bachelor's

Cornell University, 1988

Law

New York University School of Law, 1991

Tana Lin is a judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. She was nominated to the court by President Joe Biden (D) on April 29, 2021, and confirmed by the United States Senate on October 19, 2021, by a vote of 53-44.[1][2] Lin 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 Western District of Washington 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 her nomination, Lin was of counsel at the law firm of Keller Rohrback LLP in Seattle, Washington.

Judicial nominations and appointments

United States District Court for the Western District of Washington (2021-present)

See also: Federal judges nominated by Joe Biden

On April 29, 2021, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Lin to the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. She was confirmed by a vote of 53-45 on October 21, 2021.[1] Lin received her judicial commission on November 23, 2021. To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.

Nomination Tracker
Fedbadgesmall.png
Nominee Information
Name: Tana Lin
Court: United States District Court for the Western District of Washington
Progress
Confirmed 175 days after nomination.
ApprovedANominated: April 29, 2021
ApprovedAABA Rating: Well Qualified
Questionnaire: Questionnaire
ApprovedAHearing: June 9, 2021
QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
ApprovedAReported: July 15, 2021 
ApprovedAConfirmed: October 21, 2021
ApprovedAVote: 52-45


Confirmation vote

The U.S. Senate confirmed Tana Lin by a vote of 52-45 on October 21, 2021.[1] To see a full breakdown of the vote on the official U.S. Senate website, click here.

Lin confirmation vote (October 21, 2021)
Party Yea Nay No vote
Electiondot.png Democratic 47 0 1
Ends.png Republican 3 45 2
Grey.png Independent 2 0 0
Total 52 45 3

Senate Judiciary Committee hearing

The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on Lin's nomination on June 9, 2021. The committee voted to advance Lin's nomination to the full Senate on July 15, 2021.

Nomination

On April 29, 2021, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Lin to the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington.[1] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.

Lin was nominated to replace Judge Marsha Pechman, who assumed senior status in 2016.[3]

The American Bar Association rated Lin Well Qualified.[4] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.

Biography

Education

Lin earned a bachelor's degree, with distinction, from Cornell University in 1988 and a J.D. from the New York University School of Law in 1991.[2]

Professional career

The following is a summary of Lin's professional career:[2]

About the court

Western District of Washington
Ninth Circuit
WA-WD.jpg
Judgeships
Posts: 7
Judges: 7
Vacancies: 0
Judges
Chief: David G. Estudillo
Active judges: Tiffany Cartwright, John Chun, David G. Estudillo, Kymberly Evanson, Lauren King, Tana Lin, Jamal Whitehead

Senior judges:
Robert Bryan, John Coughenour, Carolyn Dimmick, Richard Jones, Robert Lasnik, Ricardo Martinez, Marsha Pechman, James Robart, Barbara Rothstein, Benjamin Hale Settle, Thomas Zilly


The United States District Court for the Western District of Washington is one of 94 United States district courts. The district operates out of courthouses in Seattle and Tacoma, Wash. When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit based in downtown San Francisco at the James R. Browning Federal Courthouse, but hears initial appeals at the Pioneer Federal Courthouse in Portland, Oregon.

The Western District of Washington 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 Western District of Washington consists of all the following counties in the western part of the state of Washington. The court's headquarters are in Seattle, with a courthouse in Tacoma.

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

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Congress.gov, "PN563 — Tana Lin — The Judiciary," accessed April 30, 2021
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 The White House, "President Biden Announces Second Slate of Judicial Nominees," April 29, 2021
  3. ↑ The White House, "Nominations Sent to the Senate," April 29, 2021
  4. ↑ American Bar Association, "RATINGS OF ARTICLE III AND ARTICLE IV JUDICIAL NOMINEES 117TH CONGRESS," accessed June 28, 2021
Political offices
Preceded by:
Marsha Pechman 		Western District of Washington
2021 – Present 		Succeeded by:
NA



Washington courts

Federal courts:

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Washington, Western District of Washington • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Washington, Western District of Washington

State courts:

Washington Supreme Court • Washington Court of Appeals • Washington Superior Court • Washington District Courts • Washington Municipal Courts

State resources:

Courts in Washington • Washington judicial elections • Judicial selection in Washington

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