James L. Dennis
Encyclopedia
James L. Dennis is a United States federal judge
currently serving on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
. His chambers are in New Orleans
, Louisiana
.
Born in Monroe
, Dennis was in the United States Army
from 1955 to 1957, then received a B.A.
from Louisiana Tech University
in 1959, a J.D.
from Louisiana State University
Paul M. Hebert Law Center
in 1962, and an LL.M. from the University of Virginia School of Law
in 1984. He was in private practice with the law firm
of Hudson, Potts & Bernstein in Monroe, Louisiana from 1962 until 1972. He served as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
from 1968–1972 and was succeeded by the Democrat (later Republican
) John C. Ensminger
, a Monroe businessman.
Dennis became a judge on the Fourth Judicial District Court of Louisiana, based in Monroe, from 1972-1974. He then served on the Louisiana Circuit Courts of Appeal
, Second Circuit, Louisiana from 1974 to 1975, and became an associate justice of the Supreme Court of Louisiana from 1975 to 1995.
On January 31, 1995, Dennis was nominated by President Bill Clinton
to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
vacated by Charles Clark
. Dennis was confirmed by the United States Senate
on September 28, 1995, and received his commission on October 2, 1995.
Dennis is one of three judges on a panel that will hear the appeal to Hornbeck Offshore Services LLC v. Salazar
, a case challenging the U.S. Department of the Interior
six month moratorium on exploratory drilling in deep water
that was adopted in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon explosion
and the subsequent oil spill
. The Fifth Circuit panel denied the government's emergency request to stay the lower court's decision pending appeal.
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....
currently serving on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
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...
. His chambers are in New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
.
Born in Monroe
Monroe, Louisiana
Monroe is a city in and the parish seat of Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 53,107, making it the eighth largest city in Louisiana. A July 1, 2007, United States Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 51,208, but 51,636...
, Dennis was in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from 1955 to 1957, then 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 Louisiana Tech University
Louisiana Tech University
Louisiana Tech University, often referred to as Louisiana Tech, LA Tech, or Tech, is a coeducational public research university located in Ruston, Louisiana. Louisiana Tech is designated as a Tier 1 school in the national universities category by the 2012 U.S. News & World Report college rankings...
in 1959, 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 Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
Paul M. Hebert Law Center
Paul M. Hebert Law Center
The Paul M. Hebert Law Center is a law school in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, part of the Louisiana State University System and located on the main campus of Louisiana State University....
in 1962, and an LL.M. from 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...
in 1984. He was in private practice with 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 Hudson, Potts & Bernstein in Monroe, Louisiana from 1962 until 1972. He served as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
Louisiana House of Representatives
The Louisiana House of Representatives is the lower house in the Louisiana State Legislature, the state legislature of the US state of Louisiana. The House is composed of 105 Representatives, each of whom represents approximately 42,500 people . Members serve four-year terms with a term limit of...
from 1968–1972 and was succeeded by the Democrat (later Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
) John C. Ensminger
John C. Ensminger
John Clifford Ensminger, Sr. , is a State Farm Insurance agent in Monroe, Louisiana, who served for two decades in both houses of the Louisiana State Legislature. Ensminger was elected in 1972 as a conservative Democrat to the Louisiana House of Representatives from Ouachita Parish, now District...
, a Monroe businessman.
Dennis became a judge on the Fourth Judicial District Court of Louisiana, based in Monroe, from 1972-1974. He then served on the Louisiana Circuit Courts of Appeal
Louisiana Circuit Courts of Appeal
The Louisiana Circuit Courts of Appeal are the intermediate appellate courts for the state of Louisiana.There are five circuits, each covering a different group of parishes...
, Second Circuit, Louisiana from 1974 to 1975, and became an associate justice of the Supreme Court of Louisiana from 1975 to 1995.
On January 31, 1995, Dennis 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 Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
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...
vacated by Charles Clark
Charles Clark (judge)
Charles Clark was a federal judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit from Mississippi. He is, as of 2011, the highest ranking judicial official from Mississippi since L.Q.C. Lamar served on the United States Supreme Court in 1893.Clark was born in Memphis, Tennessee to...
. Dennis 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 September 28, 1995, and received his commission on October 2, 1995.
Dennis is one of three judges on a panel that will hear the appeal to Hornbeck Offshore Services LLC v. Salazar
Hornbeck Offshore Services LLC v. Salazar
Hornbeck Offshore Services v. Salazar is an on-going case in United States federal court. In the wake of the Deepwater Horizon explosion and the subsequent oil spill, the U.S. Department of the Interior issued a six month moratorium on exploratory drilling in deep water. Plaintiffs filed suit...
, a case challenging the U.S. Department of the Interior
United States Department of the Interior
The United States Department of the Interior is the United States federal executive department of the U.S. government responsible for the management and conservation of most federal land and natural resources, and the administration of programs relating to Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native...
six month moratorium on exploratory drilling in deep water
2010 U.S. Deepwater Drilling Moratorium
On May 30, 2010 a 6 month moratorium on all deepwater offshore drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf was declared by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar...
that was adopted in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon explosion
Deepwater Horizon explosion
The Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion refers to the April 20, 2010 explosion and subsequent fire on the Deepwater Horizon semi-submersible Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit , which was owned and operated by Transocean and drilling for BP in the Macondo Prospect oil field about southeast of the...
and the subsequent oil spill
Deepwater Horizon oil spill
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill is an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico which flowed unabated for three months in 2010, and continues to leak fresh oil. It is the largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry...
. The Fifth Circuit panel denied the government's emergency request to stay the lower court's decision pending appeal.