Jerome Holmes
Encyclopedia
Jerome A. Holmes is a federal judge
on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
. He is the first African American
to serve on the Tenth Circuit.
in 1983 with a B.A.
. He then attended the Georgetown University Law Center
, where he was editor of the Georgetown Immigration Law Journal. He received his J.D.
in 1988. In 2000, Holmes received a Masters in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government
at Harvard University
.
Holmes began his legal career as a law clerk for Judge Wayne E. Alley at the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma in 1988. Holmes then clerked for another federal judge, William Judson Holloway, Jr.
, on the Tenth Circuit from 1990-1991. Next, he entered private practice with the firm of Steptoe & Johnson
in Washington, DC, in 1991, where he worked as an associate for three years before he returned to Oklahoma as an Assistant U.S. Attorney
for the Western District of Oklahoma. Holmes served in that capacity from 1994-2005. Holmes re-entered private practice in 2005 as a Director of the Oklahoma firm Crowe & Dunlevy, where his practice was focused on white collar criminal defense, complex civil litigation, and corporate law.
on May 4, 2006 to fill a seat vacated by Judge Stephanie Kulp Seymour
. The U.S. Senate confirmed his nomination less than three months later on July 26, 2006 by a vote of 67-30. Holmes is the sixth and last judge Bush appointed to the Tenth Circuit. Originally, Holmes was nominated by Bush to a vacancy on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma
, but that nomination was withdrawn on the same day Holmes was nominated to the Tenth Circuit. Bush's previous pick to replace Judge Seymour, U.S. District Judge James H. Payne
, withdrew over criticism of his handling of cases in which he allegedly had a conflict of interest.
Judge Holmes' first published opinion for the court, United States v. Ahidley, was released on May 25, 2007. Holmes wrote for a unanimous three-judge panel holding that a criminal defendant was improperly ordered to pay immediate restitution to the victim of his crime.
Federal judge
Federal judges are judges appointed by a federal level of government as opposed to the state / provincial / local level.-Brazil:In Brazil, federal judges of first instance are chosen exclusively by public contest...
on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* District of Colorado* District of Kansas...
. He is the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
to serve on the Tenth Circuit.
Background
Holmes graduated from Wake Forest UniversityWake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
in 1983 with 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...
. He then attended the 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...
, where he was editor of the Georgetown Immigration Law Journal. He received his 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...
in 1988. In 2000, Holmes received a Masters in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
Holmes began his legal career as a law clerk for Judge Wayne E. Alley at the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma in 1988. Holmes then clerked for another federal judge, William Judson Holloway, Jr.
William Judson Holloway, Jr.
William Judson Holloway, Jr. is a United States federal judge.Born in Hugo, Oklahoma, Holloway was in the United States Army during World War II, from 1943 to 1946. He received an A.B. from the University of Oklahoma in 1947 and an LL.B. from Harvard Law School in 1950. He was in private practice...
, on the Tenth Circuit from 1990-1991. Next, he entered private practice with the firm of Steptoe & Johnson
Steptoe & Johnson
Steptoe & Johnson LLP is an international law firm recognized for representation of clients before governmental agencies, advocacy in complex litigation and arbitration, and advice in guiding business transactions...
in Washington, DC, in 1991, where he worked as an associate for three years before he returned to Oklahoma as an Assistant U.S. Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
for the Western District of Oklahoma. Holmes served in that capacity from 1994-2005. Holmes re-entered private practice in 2005 as a Director of the Oklahoma firm Crowe & Dunlevy, where his practice was focused on white collar criminal defense, complex civil litigation, and corporate law.
Tenth Circuit nomination and confirmation
Holmes was nominated by President George W. BushGeorge 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 May 4, 2006 to fill a seat vacated by Judge Stephanie Kulp Seymour
Stephanie Kulp Seymour
Stephanie Kulp Seymour is a Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.-Early life and education:...
. The U.S. Senate confirmed his nomination less than three months later on July 26, 2006 by a vote of 67-30. Holmes is the sixth and last judge Bush appointed to the Tenth Circuit. Originally, Holmes was nominated by Bush to a vacancy on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma
United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma is the Federal district court for a portion of the state of Oklahoma....
, but that nomination was withdrawn on the same day Holmes was nominated to the Tenth Circuit. Bush's previous pick to replace Judge Seymour, U.S. District Judge James H. Payne
James H. Payne
James Hardy Payne is a federal judge sitting simultaneously on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma and the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma...
, withdrew over criticism of his handling of cases in which he allegedly had a conflict of interest.
Judge Holmes' first published opinion for the court, United States v. Ahidley, was released on May 25, 2007. Holmes wrote for a unanimous three-judge panel holding that a criminal defendant was improperly ordered to pay immediate restitution to the victim of his crime.