Harold Brent McKnight
Encyclopedia
Harold Brent McKnight was a United States federal judge
.
Born in Mooresville, North Carolina
, McKnight received a B.A.
from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 1974; an M.A.
from Magdalen College, Oxford University in 1976; and a J.D.
from the University of North Carolina in 1980. He was an assistant district attorney in North Carolina from 1982 to 1988, and a District judge in the 26th North Carolina Judicial District Court from 1989 to 1993.
Judge McKnight was also a visiting lecturer at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte
from 1992 to 2003, and an adjunct assistant professor at Wingate University
from 1994 to 2003.
McKnight became a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina
in 1993, serving in that capacity until 2003. He was nominated to the federal bench by President George W. Bush
on April 28, 2003, to fill a new seat created by Congress. In his confirmation hearings, Judge McKnight explained his views on the roll of a judge as follows: "If I am so fortunate as to be confirmed, it is my deep-seated belief, one that I've acted on in 14 years now as a judge, that the role of the judge is precisely to interpret the law as it is given to him or her, not to make law, not to expand beyond the law, not to play legislator, but to follow precedent, honestly, fairly, with integrity, to respect precedent that is established, to follow the statutes and give a precise and fair interpretation of the statutes, and do my best with what is given to me, to apply it to specific fact situations accurately and justly." http://ftp.resource.org/gpo.gov/hearings/108s/92637.txt He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on July 31, 2003, and received his commission on August 1, 2003.
Judge McKnight died from throat cancer on November 27, 2004 in Charlotte, North Carolina
. Shortly after his death, the North Carolina Bar Association Professionalism Committee dedicatated their publication, “Lawyer to Lawyer: North Carolina Reflections on the Practice of Law,” in his memoryhttp://www.ncbar.org/about/communications/nc-lawyer/2005-nc-lawyer-editions/marchapril-2005/judge-h-brent-mcknight-professionalism-personified.aspx. A Resolution and Memorial in honor of Judge McKnight was filed in Mecklenburg County Superior Court in Charlotte on February 11, 2005. http://www.ncbar.org/download/Memorial.pdf
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 Mooresville, North Carolina
Mooresville, North Carolina
Mooresville is a large suburban town in southern Iredell County, North Carolina, USA. It is in the Metrolina metro area. The population was 32,133 at the 2010 United States Census...
, McKnight 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 the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 1974; an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
from Magdalen College, Oxford University in 1976; 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 University of North Carolina in 1980. He was an assistant district attorney in North Carolina from 1982 to 1988, and a District judge in the 26th North Carolina Judicial District Court from 1989 to 1993.
Judge McKnight was also a visiting lecturer at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte , also known as UNC Charlotte or simply Charlotte, is a public research university located in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States...
from 1992 to 2003, and an adjunct assistant professor at Wingate University
Wingate University
Wingate University was founded by Baptists in 1896 as Wingate School, an independent, co-educational institution and became a four-year college in 1977. In 1996, Wingate College became Wingate University....
from 1994 to 2003.
McKnight became a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina
United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina
The United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina is a Federal district court which covers the western third of North Carolina....
in 1993, serving in that capacity until 2003. He was nominated to the federal bench by President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
on April 28, 2003, to fill a new seat created by Congress. In his confirmation hearings, Judge McKnight explained his views on the roll of a judge as follows: "If I am so fortunate as to be confirmed, it is my deep-seated belief, one that I've acted on in 14 years now as a judge, that the role of the judge is precisely to interpret the law as it is given to him or her, not to make law, not to expand beyond the law, not to play legislator, but to follow precedent, honestly, fairly, with integrity, to respect precedent that is established, to follow the statutes and give a precise and fair interpretation of the statutes, and do my best with what is given to me, to apply it to specific fact situations accurately and justly." http://ftp.resource.org/gpo.gov/hearings/108s/92637.txt 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 July 31, 2003, and received his commission on August 1, 2003.
Judge McKnight died from throat cancer on November 27, 2004 in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. Shortly after his death, the North Carolina Bar Association Professionalism Committee dedicatated their publication, “Lawyer to Lawyer: North Carolina Reflections on the Practice of Law,” in his memoryhttp://www.ncbar.org/about/communications/nc-lawyer/2005-nc-lawyer-editions/marchapril-2005/judge-h-brent-mcknight-professionalism-personified.aspx. A Resolution and Memorial in honor of Judge McKnight was filed in Mecklenburg County Superior Court in Charlotte on February 11, 2005. http://www.ncbar.org/download/Memorial.pdf