Become part of the movement for unbiased, accessible election information. Donate today.
Thomas Schroeder
2008 - Present
17
Thomas Schroeder is a federal judge for the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. He joined the court in 2008 after being nominated by former President George W. Bush. Schroeder served as chief judge from 2017 to 2023.[1]
Early life and education
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Schroeder graduated from Kansas University with his B.S. in 1981, and later received his J.D. from Notre Dame Law School in 1984.[1]
Professional career
- 2008-present: Judge, United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina
- 2017-2023: Chief judge
- 1985-2007: Attorney in private practice, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- 1984-1985: Law clerk, Hon. George E. MacKinnon, United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit[1]
Judicial career
Middle District of North Carolina
On the recommendation of North Carolina U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole, Schroeder was nominated to the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina by former President George W. Bush on January 9, 2007, to a seat vacated by Frank Bullock. Schroeder was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December 14, 2007, on a Senate vote and received commission on January 8, 2008.[2] Schroeder served as chief judge from 2017 to 2023.[1]
Noteworthy cases
North Carolina voter ID law case (2014-2016)
In 2014, Schroeder declined to interfere with the implementation of a new election law in North Carolina, finding it inappropriate for a federal judge to enjoin a law passed by elected representatives of the state. The League of Women Voters, the NAACP and other groups challenged the law in federal court, claiming it would suppress minority turnout at the polls. The groups asked for a trial to determine if the law violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965 or other federal law. The state's motion to dismiss was denied by Schroeder, and on January 25, 2016, a trial began to determine the validity of North Carolina's voter identification law. [3][4][5]
The law was designed to require voters to show a government-issued ID, prohibit same-day voter registrations, scale back the early-voting period and end a high school civics program encouraging students to register to vote as they near their 18th birthday. Additionally, under the law, college IDs, even if issued by a state-run university, would be considered insufficient as government identification. Supporters of the law claimed that the law would prevent voter fraud and keep elections fair. The law's challengers, which include the U.S. Department of Justice and the NAACP, alleged that "racial minorities are more likely than whites to lack acceptable ID; that there [was] no significant voter fraud of the kind that could be stopped by the ID requirement; and that the state ha[dn't] done enough to educate voters about law." The state's voter ID law, which was passed by the state legislature in 2013, took effect on January 1, 2016.[3][4][5]
See also
External links
- Federal Judicial Center, "Biography of Thomas D. Schroeder"
- The Robing Room, "Hon. Thomas D. Schroeder"
- Washington Post, "North Carolina voter-ID case could have ramifications across U.S.," January 25, 2016
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Federal Judicial Center, "Biography of Thomas D. Schroeder," accessed October 10, 2014
- ↑ The Library of Congress, "Presidential Nominations 110th Congress: Thomas Schroeder (USDC, MDNC)," accessed October 10, 2014
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Washington Post, "North Carolina voter-ID case could have ramifications across U.S.," January 25, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Beaufort Observer, "Judge allows Voter ID law to be implemented," August 11, 2014
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 The New American, "Federal Judge Rejects Challenge to North Carolina Voter Law," August 11, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina 2008-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Active judges | |||
| Senior judges |
Norwood Tilley • Catherine Eagles • Loretta Copeland Biggs • | ||
| Magistrate judges | L. Patrick Auld • Joi Elizabeth Peake • Joe L. Webster • | ||
| Former Article III judges |
James Beaty • Johnson Jay Hayes • Frank Bullock • Richard Erwin • Eugene Gordon • William Osteen, Sr. • Lunsford Preyer • Edwin Stanley • Hiram Ward • | ||
| Former Chief judges |
Norwood Tilley • Frank Bullock • Richard Erwin • Eugene Gordon • Edwin Stanley • Hiram Ward • | ||
 |
State of North Carolina Raleigh (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
