Edward C. DuMont
Encyclopedia
Edward Carroll DuMont is an American lawyer who in 2010 and 2011 had been nominated by President Barack Obama
to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
. In November 2011, however, DuMont sent a letter to President Obama asking him to withdraw his nomination to the judgeship. Obama withdrew DuMont's nomination on November 10, 2011, nominating Richard G. Taranto
in DuMont's place.
DuMont currently is a partner at the law firm
of WilmerHale.
and raised in northern California, DuMont received a A.B.
summa cum laude from Yale University
in 1983, and a J.D.
from Stanford Law School
in 1986. DuMont then served as a law clerk
to Richard A. Posner of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
from 1986 to 1987. After his clerkship, he was awarded a Henry Luce Scholarship
, which allowed him to spend a year working at a law firm in Bangkok, Thailand.
at that time, Seth Waxman, and as an Associate Deputy Attorney General in the United States Department of Justice
, handling issues relating to computer crime
, e-commerce and privacy
. DuMont has argued eighteen cases before the Supreme Court of the United States
, and has briefed many more. Those cases have covered a wide range of legal issues.
DuMont joined WilmerHale in 2002.
retiring on May 31, 2010. DuMont's nomination languished for more than 18 months without a hearing. NPR
commented on the delay in an August 4, 2011 article, stating that "Some of the longest waiting nominees, Louis Butler of Wisconsin, Charles Bernard Day
of Maryland and Edward Dumont of Washington happen to be black or openly gay".
DuMont would have been the first openly gay United States appeals court
judge. His partner is Newton Kendig.
The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
never scheduled a hearing on the nomination. On November 9, 2011, the National Law Journal reported that DuMont had submitted a letter to President Obama, asking that the president withdraw his nomination. Obama did so on November 10, 2011.
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...
to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
-Vacancies and pending nominations:-List of former judges:-Chief judges:Notwithstanding the foregoing, when the court was initially created, Congress had to resolve which chief judge of the predecessor courts would become the first chief judge...
. In November 2011, however, DuMont sent a letter to President Obama asking him to withdraw his nomination to the judgeship. Obama withdrew DuMont's nomination on November 10, 2011, nominating Richard G. Taranto
Richard G. Taranto
Richard Gary Taranto, born , is a lawyer who has been nominated by President Obama to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.-Biography:...
in DuMont's place.
DuMont currently is a partner at the law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
of WilmerHale.
Early life and education
Born in Oakland, CaliforniaOakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
and raised in northern California, DuMont received a A.B.
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...
summa cum laude 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 1983, 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 Stanford Law School
Stanford Law School
Stanford Law School is a graduate school at Stanford University located in the area known as the Silicon Valley, near Palo Alto, California in the United States. The Law School was established in 1893 when former President Benjamin Harrison joined the faculty as the first professor of law...
in 1986. DuMont then served as 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...
to Richard A. Posner of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the courts in the following districts:* Central District of Illinois* Northern District of Illinois...
from 1986 to 1987. After his clerkship, he was awarded a Henry Luce Scholarship
Henry Luce Scholar
Henry Luce Scholar is a recipient of a cultural exchange and vocational fellowship sponsored by The Henry Luce Foundation, a private foundation established by Time, Inc. founder Henry R. Luce.-The program:...
, which allowed him to spend a year working at a law firm in Bangkok, Thailand.
Professional career
DuMont spent several years as an Assistant to the United States Solicitor GeneralUnited States Solicitor General
The United States Solicitor General is the person appointed to represent the federal government of the United States before the Supreme Court of the United States. The current Solicitor General, Donald B. Verrilli, Jr. was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 6, 2011 and sworn in on June...
at that time, Seth Waxman, and as an Associate Deputy Attorney General in the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
, handling issues relating to computer crime
Computer crime
Computer crime, or cybercrime, refers to any crime that involves a computer and a network. The computer may have been used in the commission of a crime, or it may be the target. Netcrime refers to criminal exploitation of the Internet. Such crimes may threaten a nation’s security and financial health...
, e-commerce and privacy
Privacy
Privacy is the ability of an individual or group to seclude themselves or information about themselves and thereby reveal themselves selectively...
. DuMont has argued eighteen cases before the Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
, and has briefed many more. Those cases have covered a wide range of legal issues.
DuMont joined WilmerHale in 2002.
Nomination to the Federal Circuit
On April 14, 2010, President Obama nominated DuMont to fill the vacancy on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit that was to be created by Judge Paul Redmond MichelPaul Redmond Michel
Paul Redmond Michel was an American federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit from 1988 until 2010, and served as its chief judge from 2004 until his retirement....
retiring on May 31, 2010. DuMont's nomination languished for more than 18 months without a hearing. NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
commented on the delay in an August 4, 2011 article, stating that "Some of the longest waiting nominees, Louis Butler of Wisconsin, Charles Bernard Day
Charles Bernard Day
Charles Bernard Day is a United States magistrate judge and former nominee to be a United States district judge on the United States District Court for the District of Maryland...
of Maryland and Edward Dumont of Washington happen to be black or openly gay".
DuMont would have been the first openly gay United States appeals court
United States courts of appeals
The United States courts of appeals are the intermediate appellate courts of the United States federal court system...
judge. His partner is Newton Kendig.
The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary is a standing committee of the United States Senate, of the United States Congress. The Judiciary Committee, with 18 members, is charged with conducting hearings prior to the Senate votes on confirmation of federal judges nominated by the...
never scheduled a hearing on the nomination. On November 9, 2011, the National Law Journal reported that DuMont had submitted a letter to President Obama, asking that the president withdraw his nomination. Obama did so on November 10, 2011.
External links
- WilmerHale biography of Edward C. DuMont