Amalya Lyle Kearse
Encyclopedia
Amalya Lyle Kearse is a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
, and a world-class bridge
player.
in Maplewood, New Jersey
. A philosophy
major and 1959 graduate of Wellesley College, she was the only black woman in her law school
class at the University of Michigan Law School
. She was an editor of the law review and graduated
cum laude
in 1962.
She entered private practice in New York City
and rose to become a partner in the respected Wall Street
firm of Hughes Hubbard & Reed
. She was an adjunct lecturer at New York University Law School from 1968 to 1969.
Appointed to the Second Circuit appellate court by President Jimmy Carter
in 1979, she was the first woman and only the second black person (after Thurgood Marshall
) on the court. In 1992, she was considered by President
Bill Clinton
for appointment as United States Attorney General
; the job eventually went to Janet Reno
. On June 11, 2002 she took senior status
.
which earned her the title of World Bridge Federation
World Life Master. She is also a seven-time U.S. national
champion of the game.
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit is one of the thirteen United States Courts of Appeals...
, and a world-class bridge
Contract bridge
Contract bridge, usually known simply as bridge, is a trick-taking card game using a standard deck of 52 playing cards played by four players in two competing partnerships with partners sitting opposite each other around a small table...
player.
Legal career
Her father was a postmaster and her mother was a doctor. She attended Columbia High SchoolColumbia High School (New Jersey)
Columbia High School is a four-year comprehensive regional public high school located at 17 Parker Avenue in Maplewood, New Jersey, which serves students in grades nine through twelve within the South Orange-Maplewood School District, which includes Maplewood and South Orange Townships...
in Maplewood, New Jersey
Maplewood, New Jersey
Maplewood is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 23,867.-History:...
. A philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
major and 1959 graduate of Wellesley College, she was the only black woman in her law school
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
class at the University of Michigan Law School
University of Michigan Law School
The University of Michigan Law School is the law school of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Founded in 1859, the school has an enrollment of about 1,200 students, most of whom are seeking Juris Doctor or Master of Laws degrees, although the school also offers a Doctor of Juridical...
. She was an editor of the law review and graduated
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
cum laude
Latin honors
Latin honors are Latin phrases used to indicate the level of academic distinction with which an academic degree was earned. This system is primarily used in the United States, Canada, and in many countries of continental Europe, though some institutions also use the English translation of these...
in 1962.
She entered private practice in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and rose to become a partner in the respected Wall Street
Wall Street
Wall Street refers to the financial district of New York City, named after and centered on the eight-block-long street running from Broadway to South Street on the East River in Lower Manhattan. Over time, the term has become a metonym for the financial markets of the United States as a whole, or...
firm of Hughes Hubbard & Reed
Hughes Hubbard & Reed
Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP , founded in 1888, is a law firm headquartered in New York City.The firm's history dates back to the late 19th century when it counted among its partners former Chief Justice of the United States Charles Evans Hughes.Hughes Hubbard was recently ranked first among law firms...
. She was an adjunct lecturer at New York University Law School from 1968 to 1969.
Appointed to the Second Circuit appellate court by President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
in 1979, she was the first woman and only the second black person (after Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood Marshall was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, serving from October 1967 until October 1991...
) on the court. In 1992, she was considered by President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
for appointment as United States Attorney General
United States Attorney General
The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government...
; the job eventually went to Janet Reno
Janet Reno
Janet Wood Reno is a former Attorney General of the United States . She was nominated by President Bill Clinton on February 11, 1993, and confirmed on March 11...
. On June 11, 2002 she took senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
.
Bridge career
Kearse is also known as a world-class bridge player. In 1986, playing with longtime partner Jacqui Mitchell, she won the World Women Pairs ChampionshipWorld Women Pairs Championship
The World Women Pairs Championship is a bridge championship held every four years as part of the World Bridge Championships. It is restricted to women pairs only.-Results:World meets commonly run for 15 days on a schedule whose details vary....
which earned her the title of World Bridge Federation
World Bridge Federation
The World Bridge Federation is the world governing body of contract bridge. The WBF is responsible for world championship competition, most of which is conducted at a few multi-event meets on a four-year cycle...
World Life Master. She is also a seven-time U.S. national
American Contract Bridge League
The American Contract Bridge League is the largest contract bridge organization in North America. It promotes the game of bridge in the United States, Mexico, Bermuda, and Canada, and is a member of the World Bridge Federation...
champion of the game.
Wins
- World Women's PairsWorld Women Pairs ChampionshipThe World Women Pairs Championship is a bridge championship held every four years as part of the World Bridge Championships. It is restricted to women pairs only.-Results:World meets commonly run for 15 days on a schedule whose details vary....
(1) 1986 - North American Bridge ChampionshipsNorth American Bridge ChampionshipsNorth American Bridge Championships are three annual bridge conventions sponsored by the American Contract Bridge League . The "Spring", "Summer", and "Fall" NABCs are usually scheduled in March, July, and November for about eleven days. They comprise both championship and side contests of...
(6)- Women's Board-a-Match TeamsSternberg Women's Board-a-Match TeamsThe Sternberg Women's Board-a-Match Teams bridge championship is held at the fall American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship and is a four session board-a-match event, two qualifying sessions and two final sessions...
(1) 1990 - Women's Knockout TeamsWagar Women's Knockout TeamsThe Wagar Women's Knockout Teams national bridge championship is held at the summer American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship .The Wagar Women's Knockout Teams is a knock-out team event....
(1) 1987 - Women's Swiss TeamsMachlin Women's Swiss TeamsThe Machlin Women's Swiss Teams national bridge championship is held at the spring American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
(1) 1991 - Life Master Women's PairsSmith Life Master Women's PairsThe Smith Life Master Women's Pairs national bridge championship is held at the fall American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
(1) 1972 - Women's PairsWhitehead Women's PairsThe Whitehead Women's Pairs bridge championship is held at the spring American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
(2) 1971, 2004
- Women's Board-a-Match Teams
- United States Bridge Championships (1)
- Women's Team Trials (1) 1992
Runner-ups
- North American Bridge ChampionshipsNorth American Bridge ChampionshipsNorth American Bridge Championships are three annual bridge conventions sponsored by the American Contract Bridge League . The "Spring", "Summer", and "Fall" NABCs are usually scheduled in March, July, and November for about eleven days. They comprise both championship and side contests of...
(3)- Mixed Board-a-Match TeamsChicago Mixed Board-a-MatchThe Chicago Mixed Board-a-Match teams national bridge championship is held at the summer American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship .The event is a board-a-match team event....
(1) 1996 - Women's Knockout TeamsWagar Women's Knockout TeamsThe Wagar Women's Knockout Teams national bridge championship is held at the summer American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship .The Wagar Women's Knockout Teams is a knock-out team event....
(1) 1991 - Women's Swiss TeamsMachlin Women's Swiss TeamsThe Machlin Women's Swiss Teams national bridge championship is held at the spring American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
(1) 2001
- Mixed Board-a-Match Teams
- United States Bridge Championships (3)
- Women's Team Trials (3) 1988, 1995, 2004
- Other notable 2nd places:
- IOC Grand Prix Women's Teams (1) 2002