Ellen Segal Huvelle
Encyclopedia
Ellen Segal Huvelle is a federal judge
sitting in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia
. She has overseen several significant cases. In a case decided in May 2001, Huvelle "upheld federal regulations that restrict the sale of consumers' names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, addresses and phone numbers."
Later that year, Huvelle heard requests by family members of Vince Foster
seeking access to pictures of his body taken after his death. In November 2005, she accepted the guilty plea in the high-profile prosecution of lobbyist Michael Scanlon
.
from Wellesley College in 1970, a Masters in City Planning from the Yale School of Architecture
in 1972, and a J.D.
from the Boston College Law School
in 1975. Following law school, she served as law clerk
to Chief Justice
Edward F. Hennessey
of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
from 1975 to 1976. From 1976 until 1984, Judge Huvelle was an associate at the firm of Williams & Connolly
in Washington, D.C.
and in 1984, she became a partner at that firm, where she remained until 1990.
In 1983 Huvelle was one of three attorneys who drafted an amicus brief on behalf of the Motion Picture Association of America
in the landmark case of Sony Corp. of America v. Universal City Studios, Inc.
. As a partner at Williams & Connolly, Huvelle represented several notable clients including hotel magnate Leona Helmsley
and fight promoter Don King.
from 1997 to 1999.
On March 25, 1999, Huvelle was nominated by President Bill Clinton
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia
, vacated by John Garrett Penn
. She was confirmed by the United States Senate
on October 15, 1999, receiving her commission on October 26, 1999. Senator
Patrick Leahy
cited the long delays in Huvelle's confirmation as US District Court Judge as a troubling example of problems in the confirmation process.
Huvelle has been a Fellow of the American Bar Association
, a member of the Edward Bennett Williams Inn of Court, and has taught trial practice
at Harvard Law School
's Trial Advocacy Workshop and at the University of Virginia School of Law
.
Huvelle played a key role in ensuring that ordinary consumers can opt out of information collection on their personal information.
's habeas corpus
petition in Murat Kurnaz v. George W. Bush.
Huvelle amalgamated related cases into a class action against In re XM Satellite Radio Holdings Securities Litigation, C.A. No. 06-0802.
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....
sitting in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia
United States District Court for the District of Columbia
The United States District Court for the District of Columbia is a federal district court. Appeals from the District are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit The United States District Court for the District of Columbia (in case citations, D.D.C.) is a...
. She has overseen several significant cases. In a case decided in May 2001, Huvelle "upheld federal regulations that restrict the sale of consumers' names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, addresses and phone numbers."
Later that year, Huvelle heard requests by family members of Vince Foster
Vince Foster
Vincent Walker Foster, Jr. was a Deputy White House Counsel during the first few months of President Bill Clinton's administration, and also a law partner and friend of Hillary Rodham Clinton...
seeking access to pictures of his body taken after his death. In November 2005, she accepted the guilty plea in the high-profile prosecution of lobbyist Michael Scanlon
Michael Scanlon
Michael Scanlon, AKA "Sean Scanlon", is a former communications director for Rep. Tom DeLay, lobbyist, and public relations executive who has pleaded guilty to corruption charges related to the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal...
.
Early life and career
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Huvelle 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 Wellesley College in 1970, a Masters in City Planning from the Yale School of Architecture
Yale School of Architecture
The Yale School of Architecture is one of the constituent professional schools of Yale University. It is generally considered to be one of the most prestigious architecture schools in the world.- History :...
in 1972, 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 the Boston College Law School
Boston College Law School
Boston College Law School is one of the six professional graduate schools at Boston College. Located approximately 1.5 miles from the main Boston College campus in Chestnut Hill, Boston College Law School is situated on a wooded campus in Newton, Massachusetts.With approximately 800 students and...
in 1975. Following law school, she served as 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 Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
Edward F. Hennessey
Edward F. Hennessey
Edward F. Hennessey was the Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court from 1976 to 1989.-Biography:...
of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court is the highest court in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The SJC has the distinction of being the oldest continuously functioning appellate court in the Western Hemisphere.-History:...
from 1975 to 1976. From 1976 until 1984, Judge Huvelle was an associate at the firm of Williams & Connolly
Williams & Connolly
Williams & Connolly LLP is a prominent litigation firm based in Washington, D.C. The firm was founded by trial lawyer Edward Bennett Williams, who left the partnership of D.C. firm Hogan & Hartson to launch his own litigation boutique....
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and in 1984, she became a partner at that firm, where she remained until 1990.
In 1983 Huvelle was one of three attorneys who drafted an amicus brief on behalf of the Motion Picture Association of America
Motion Picture Association of America
The Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. , originally the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America , was founded in 1922 and is designed to advance the business interests of its members...
in the landmark case of Sony Corp. of America v. Universal City Studios, Inc.
Sony Corp. of America v. Universal City Studios, Inc.
Sony Corp. of America v. Universal City Studios, Inc., 464 U.S. 417 , also known as the "Betamax case", is a decision by the Supreme Court of the United States which ruled that the making of individual copies of complete television shows for purposes of time-shifting does not constitute copyright...
. As a partner at Williams & Connolly, Huvelle represented several notable clients including hotel magnate Leona Helmsley
Leona Helmsley
Leona Mindy Roberts Helmsley was an American businesswoman and real estate entrepreneur. She was a flamboyant personality and had a reputation for tyrannical behavior that earned her the nickname Queen of Mean...
and fight promoter Don King.
Judicial service
Huvelle was appointed Associate Judge of the District of Columbia Superior Court in September 1990 and served in the Civil, Criminal and Family Divisions until her appointment to the federal bench. While serving on that court, she was a lecturer at the University of Virginia School of LawUniversity of Virginia School of Law
The University of Virginia School of Law was founded in Charlottesville in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson as one of the original subjects taught at his "academical village," the University of Virginia. The law school maintains an enrollment of approximately 1,100 students in its initial degree program...
from 1997 to 1999.
On March 25, 1999, Huvelle was nominated by President 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...
to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia
United States District Court for the District of Columbia
The United States District Court for the District of Columbia is a federal district court. Appeals from the District are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit The United States District Court for the District of Columbia (in case citations, D.D.C.) is a...
, vacated by John Garrett Penn
John Garrett Penn
John Garrett Penn was a United States federal judge.Born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Penn attended the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. He received an A.B. from the University of Massachusetts in 1954. He received an LL.B. from Boston University...
. She 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 October 15, 1999, receiving her commission on October 26, 1999. Senator
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...
Patrick Leahy
Patrick Leahy
Patrick Joseph Leahy is the senior United States Senator from Vermont and member of the Democratic Party. He is the first and only elected Democratic United States Senator in Vermont's history. He is the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Leahy is the second most senior U.S. Senator,...
cited the long delays in Huvelle's confirmation as US District Court Judge as a troubling example of problems in the confirmation process.
Huvelle has been a Fellow of the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
, a member of the Edward Bennett Williams Inn of Court, and has taught trial practice
Trial practice
Trial practice is an upper level course offered in most American law schools designed to teach future litigators the fine points of presenting a case to a judge and jury...
at Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
's Trial Advocacy Workshop and at the University of Virginia School of Law
University of Virginia School of Law
The University of Virginia School of Law was founded in Charlottesville in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson as one of the original subjects taught at his "academical village," the University of Virginia. The law school maintains an enrollment of approximately 1,100 students in its initial degree program...
.
Privacy and "opt out"
According to CNNCNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
Huvelle played a key role in ensuring that ordinary consumers can opt out of information collection on their personal information.
A.C.L.U. v. U.S. Dept. of Justice
Huvelle ruled on A.C.L.U. v. U.S. Dept. of Justice, 265 F.Supp.2d 20.Murat Kurnaz v. George W. Bush
Huvelle made a ruling on Guantanamo captive Murat KurnazMurat Kurnaz
On March 3, 2006, in response to a court order from Jed Rakoff the Department of Defense published a Summarized transcripts from his Combatant Status Review Tribunal.The tribunal that examined the case against Kurnaz lasted for forty minutes....
's habeas corpus
Habeas corpus
is a writ, or legal action, through which a prisoner can be released from unlawful detention. The remedy can be sought by the prisoner or by another person coming to his aid. Habeas corpus originated in the English legal system, but it is now available in many nations...
petition in Murat Kurnaz v. George W. Bush.
XM Radio
In the summer of 2006Huvelle amalgamated related cases into a class action against In re XM Satellite Radio Holdings Securities Litigation, C.A. No. 06-0802.