Douglas Preston Woodlock
Encyclopedia
Douglas Preston Woodlock (born February 27, 1947) is a United States federal judge
.
Born in Hartford, Connecticut
, Woodlock received a B.A.
from Yale University
in 1969, where he was a member of Skull and Bones
, and a J.D.
from Georgetown University Law Center
in 1975. He was a law clerk
, Hon. Frank J. Murray, U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts from 1975 to 1976. He was in private practice in Boston, Massachusetts from 1976 to 1979. He was a Chairman, Board of Appeals for the Town of Hamilton, Massachusetts from 1978 to 1979. He was an assistant U.S. Attorney of the District of Massachusetts from 1979 to 1983. He was an Instructor, Harvard Law School, 1980 in 1981. He was in private practice in Boston, Massachusetts from 1983 to 1986. He was a Chairman, Massachusetts Committee for Public Counsel Services from 1984 to 1986.
Woodlock was a federal judge on the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
. Woodlock was nominated by President Ronald Reagan
on April 22, 1986, to a seat vacated by W. Arthur Garrity, Jr.. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on June 13, 1986, and received his commission on June 16, 1986.
In 2008, Woodlock issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO)
in the case of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority v. Anderson, et al., Civil Action No. 08-11364
, preventing four MIT students from revealing weaknesses in the MBTA
's "Charlie Card" fare system. This was widely viewed as unconstitutiional prior restraint
of the students free speech and Woodlock did not renew the TRO when it expired.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Born in Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
, Woodlock received a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1969, where he was a member of Skull and Bones
Skull and Bones
Skull and Bones is an undergraduate senior or secret society at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. It is a traditional peer society to Scroll and Key and Wolf's Head, as the three senior class 'landed societies' at Yale....
, and a J.D.
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...
from Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
in 1975. He was a law clerk
Law clerk
A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Law clerks are not court clerks or courtroom deputies, who are administrative staff for the court. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who...
, Hon. Frank J. Murray, U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts from 1975 to 1976. He was in private practice in Boston, Massachusetts from 1976 to 1979. He was a Chairman, Board of Appeals for the Town of Hamilton, Massachusetts from 1978 to 1979. He was an assistant U.S. Attorney of the District of Massachusetts from 1979 to 1983. He was an Instructor, Harvard Law School, 1980 in 1981. He was in private practice in Boston, Massachusetts from 1983 to 1986. He was a Chairman, Massachusetts Committee for Public Counsel Services from 1984 to 1986.
Woodlock was a federal judge on the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
The United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts is the federal district court whose jurisdiction is the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, USA. The first court session was held in Boston in 1789. The second term was held in Salem in 1790 and until 1813 court session locations...
. Woodlock was nominated by President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
on April 22, 1986, to a seat vacated by W. Arthur Garrity, Jr.. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on June 13, 1986, and received his commission on June 16, 1986.
In 2008, Woodlock issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO)
Restraining order
A restraining order or order of protection is a form of legal injunction that requires a party to do, or to refrain from doing, certain acts. A party that refuses to comply with an order faces criminal or civil penalties and may have to pay damages or accept sanctions...
in the case of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority v. Anderson, et al., Civil Action No. 08-11364
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority v. Anderson
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority v. Anderson, et al., Civil Action No. 08-11364, was a challenge brought by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority to prevent three Massachusetts Institute of Technology students from publicly presenting a security vulnerability they discovered in...
, preventing four MIT students from revealing weaknesses in the MBTA
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, often referred to as the MBTA or simply The T, is the public operator of most bus, subway, commuter rail and ferry systems in the greater Boston, Massachusetts, area. Officially a "body politic and corporate, and a political subdivision" of the...
's "Charlie Card" fare system. This was widely viewed as unconstitutiional prior restraint
Prior restraint
Prior restraint or prior censorship is censorship in which certain material may not be published or communicated, rather than not prohibiting publication but making the publisher answerable for what is made known...
of the students free speech and Woodlock did not renew the TRO when it expired.