Andre M. Davis
Encyclopedia
Andre Maurice Davis is a jurist on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. He previously was a federal district judge, and was nominated first for a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit by President Bill Clinton
in 2000. He was renominated to the Fourth Circuit by President Barack Obama
on April 2, 2009, and he was confirmed by the Senate on November 9, 2009.
, Davis grew up in East Baltimore. His father was a schoolteacher, his mother was a food services worker and his stepfather was a steel worker, according to an October 12, 2000 article in the Baltimore Sun. Davis attended Phillips Academy
for high school, and earned a bachelor's degree in American history from the University of Pennsylvania
in 1971. Although he had planned to become a college professor, Davis chose to pursue a career in the law after taking an undergraduate course in constitutional law, according to the October 12, 2000 article in the Baltimore Sun. Davis earned a law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law
in 1978. At the University of Maryland, Davis won the Myerowitz Moot Court Competition in 1977.
. He became a judge in 1987, when he was appointed to be an associate judge for the District Court of Maryland for Baltimore City. From 1990 until 1995, Davis worked as an associate judge for the Circuit Court for Baltimore City.
nominated Davis to be a judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. The U.S. Senate unanimously approved Davis to the seat in a voice vote on August 11, 1995. In discussing his judicial philosophy, Davis told the Baltimore Sun in an article that was published on October 12, 2000 that "I want the loser -- and I know there's always going to be a loser, that's the nature of the beast -- but I want the loser to be able to say, 'I lost, but I was heard, and I believe that judge gave me every consideration in hearing my side.'"
during a presidential election year, no hearings were scheduled on his nomination, and the nomination was returned to Clinton at the end of his term. President George W. Bush chose not to renominate Davis to the Fourth Circuit.
On April 2, 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Davis to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. On June 4, 2009, the Senate Judiciary Committee endorsed the nomination by a vote of 17-3.
The full Senate voted 72-16 to confirm Davis on November 9, 2009. Davis received his commission on November 10, 2009.
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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...
in 2000. He was renominated to the Fourth Circuit by President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
on April 2, 2009, and he was confirmed by the Senate on November 9, 2009.
Early life and education
Born in BaltimoreBaltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Davis grew up in East Baltimore. His father was a schoolteacher, his mother was a food services worker and his stepfather was a steel worker, according to an October 12, 2000 article in the Baltimore Sun. Davis attended Phillips Academy
Phillips Academy
Phillips Academy is a selective, co-educational independent boarding high school for boarding and day students in grades 9–12, along with a post-graduate year...
for high school, and earned a bachelor's degree in American history from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in 1971. Although he had planned to become a college professor, Davis chose to pursue a career in the law after taking an undergraduate course in constitutional law, according to the October 12, 2000 article in the Baltimore Sun. Davis earned a law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law
University of Maryland School of Law
The University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law is the second-oldest law school in the United States by date of establishment and third-oldest by date of first classes. The school is located on the campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore in Downtown Baltimore's West Side...
in 1978. At the University of Maryland, Davis won the Myerowitz Moot Court Competition in 1977.
Professional career
Prior to law school, Davis served as an assistant housing manager and equal opportunity specialist with the Housing Authority of Baltimore City. After graduating from law school, Davis clerked for U.S. District Judge Frank Kaufman of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland from 1978 until 1979. Davis then clerked from 1979 until 1980 for U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Francis Dominic Murnaghan, Jr. From 1980 until 1981, Davis worked as an appellate attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division. In 1981, Davis joined the United States Attorney's office for the District of Maryland as an Assistant U.S. Attorney until 1983, when he entered private practice. From 1984 until 1987, Davis worked as an assistant professor for the University of Maryland School of LawUniversity of Maryland School of Law
The University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law is the second-oldest law school in the United States by date of establishment and third-oldest by date of first classes. The school is located on the campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore in Downtown Baltimore's West Side...
. He became a judge in 1987, when he was appointed to be an associate judge for the District Court of Maryland for Baltimore City. From 1990 until 1995, Davis worked as an associate judge for the Circuit Court for Baltimore City.
Nomination and confirmation to United States District Court for the District of Maryland
On May 4, 1995, President Bill ClintonBill 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...
nominated Davis to be a judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. The U.S. Senate unanimously approved Davis to the seat in a voice vote on August 11, 1995. In discussing his judicial philosophy, Davis told the Baltimore Sun in an article that was published on October 12, 2000 that "I want the loser -- and I know there's always going to be a loser, that's the nature of the beast -- but I want the loser to be able to say, 'I lost, but I was heard, and I believe that judge gave me every consideration in hearing my side.'"
Nomination and confirmation to Fourth Circuit
On October 12, 2000, President Clinton nominated Davis to be a judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, to replace Murnaghan, who had died. The nomination was a part of Clinton's effort to integrate the Fourth Circuit, which up to that point had never had an African-American judge; however, since Davis was nominated after July 1, 2000, the unofficial start date of the Thurmond RuleThurmond Rule
The Thurmond Rule is an informal and somewhat amorphous rule of thumb in the United States Senate. While it originated with former Senator Strom Thurmond's opposition to President Lyndon Johnson's nomination of Justice Abe Fortas to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in June of 1968, its...
during a presidential election year, no hearings were scheduled on his nomination, and the nomination was returned to Clinton at the end of his term. President George W. Bush chose not to renominate Davis to the Fourth Circuit.
On April 2, 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Davis to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. On June 4, 2009, the Senate Judiciary Committee endorsed the nomination by a vote of 17-3.
The full Senate voted 72-16 to confirm Davis on November 9, 2009. Davis received his commission on November 10, 2009.
Fourth Circuit Law Clerks
| Name | Law School | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Angie Louie | University of Pennsylvania | 2009–2010 |
| Melissa Martinez | University of Maryland | 2009–2010 |
| Gregory S. Parks | Cornell University | 2009–2010 |
| Nina Schichor | University of Maryland | 2009–2010 |
District Court Law Clerks
| Name | Law School | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Melissa Martinez | University of Maryland | 2008–2009 |
| Nina Schichor | University of Maryland | 2008–2009 |
| Sahar Aziz | University of Texas | 2004–2005 |
| Jamilah Jefferson | University of Pennsylvania | 2002–2003 |
| Rudhir Patel | University of Maryland | 2002–2003 |
| Carrie Corcoran | 1997–1998 | |
| Kathy F. Crosby | 1997–1998 | |
| Rudy Brioche | University of Maryland | 1995–1996 |
| Carrie Corcoran | 1994–1995 | |
| Kathy F. Crosby | 1994–1995 | |
| Cecelia Assam | 1992–1993 |
External links
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