Carolyn Dineen King
Encyclopedia
Carolyn Dineen King is a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
. Her chambers are in Houston, Texas
.
Judge King graduated summa cum laude from Smith College
in 1959, and earned a law degree from Yale Law School
in 1962. After being turned down for a position in the United States Attorney
's office in Houston because she was female, she joined Fulbright & Jaworski
as a corporate and securities lawyer. From 1962-1979, she was in private practice in Houston.
In 1979, President Jimmy Carter
appointed her to the Fifth Circuit, where she has written over 4400 opinions. She served as Chief Judge of the court from 1999 to 2006. In 2002, at the request of Chief Justice William Rehnquist
, she became the first woman to chair the Executive Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States
.
In 2007, Judge King received the Edward J. Devitt
Distinguished Service to Justice Award from the American Judicature Society
.
Judge King served under the name "Carolyn Dineen Randall" from 1979 to 1988. She is married to senior Fifth Circuit Judge Thomas Morrow Reavley
.
Judge King is widely considered to be a political and judicial moderate
.
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Eastern District of Louisiana* Middle District of Louisiana...
. Her chambers are in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
.
Judge King graduated summa cum laude from Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
in 1959, and earned a law degree from Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
in 1962. After being turned down for a position in the United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
's office in Houston because she was female, she joined Fulbright & Jaworski
Fulbright & Jaworski
The international law firm of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. is one of the largest law firms in the United States with nearly 1,000 attorneys in over 50 practice areas. The firm was founded in Houston in 1919 by R. C. Fulbright, an attorney working in railway regulation, and J.H. Crooker, a litigator...
as a corporate and securities lawyer. From 1962-1979, she was in private practice in Houston.
In 1979, 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...
appointed her to the Fifth Circuit, where she has written over 4400 opinions. She served as Chief Judge of the court from 1999 to 2006. In 2002, at the request of Chief Justice William Rehnquist
William Rehnquist
William Hubbs Rehnquist was an American lawyer, jurist, and political figure who served as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States and later as the 16th Chief Justice of the United States...
, she became the first woman to chair the Executive Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States
Judicial Conference of the United States
The Judicial Conference of the United States, formerly known as Conference of Senior Circuit Judges, was created by the United States Congress in 1922 with the principal objective of framing policy guidelines for administration of judicial courts in the United States...
.
In 2007, Judge King received the Edward J. Devitt
Edward Devitt
Edward James Devitt was a United States Representative and United States District Judge from Minnesota.-Early life, education, and career:...
Distinguished Service to Justice Award from the American Judicature Society
American Judicature Society
The American Judicature Society is an independent, nonpartisan, national organization of judges, lawyers, and interested members of the public whose mission is to improve the American justice system - to "secure and promote an independent and qualified judiciary and fair system of justice." ...
.
Judge King served under the name "Carolyn Dineen Randall" from 1979 to 1988. She is married to senior Fifth Circuit Judge Thomas Morrow Reavley
Thomas Morrow Reavley
Thomas Morrow Reavley is a senior judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.-Biography:Reavley was born in Quitman, Texas in 1921. He received his B.A. degree from University of Texas in 1942. After graduation, he joined the US Navy from 1942 to 1946...
.
Judge King is widely considered to be a political and judicial moderate
Moderate
In politics and religion, a moderate is an individual who is not extreme, partisan or radical. In recent years, political moderates has gained traction as a buzzword....
.