John G. Heyburn II
Encyclopedia
John G. Heyburn II is an Article III federal judge
for the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
. Heyburn served as the Chief Judge
of the Court between 2001 and 2008.
. His father and grandfather were both attorneys. Heyburn graduated from Harvard University
with his Bachelor's Degree
in 1970 where he also lettered in cross-country
and track and completed several Boston Marathon
s. He earned his juris doctorate degree from the University of Kentucky Law School
in 1976 and was a member of its National Moot Court
Team.
based law firm of Brown, Todd and Heyburn (now Frost Brown Todd) from 1976 to 1992. His practice focused on civil litigation within the construction industry. He also served as Special Counsel for then - Jefferson County Judge/Executive
Mitch McConnell
. Also, Heyburn served in the US Army Reserve from 1970 to 1976.
, Heyburn was nominated by President George H. W. Bush
on March 20, 1992 to a seat vacated by Thomas Ballantine, Jr.
as Ballantine went on senior status
. Heyburn was confirmed by the US Senate
on August 12, 1992 on a Senate vote and received commission on August 17, 1992.
In 1994, Chief Justice Rehnquist
appointed Judge Heyburn to serve on the Budget Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States
. In January 1997, Judge Heyburn was appointed Chair of the Budget Committee and served in that capacity until December 2004. In that role Judge Heyburn led the development of the appropriations request for the federal judiciary. He testified many times before various House
and Senate
committees on budget issues. He consulted with the Republic of Ireland
judiciary during the reform of their justice system.
In June 2007, Chief Justice Roberts appointed Judge Heyburn as Chair of the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation
. The Panel decides whether cases in districts around the nation including overlapping nationwide or statewide class actions, should be centralized in a single judicial district for pretrial purposes.
Judge Heyburn has spoken throughout the country on the congressional budget process
, the independent judiciary and the role of the Panel on Multidistrict Litigation
in complex litigation.
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....
for the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
The United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky is the federal district court for the western part of the state of Kentucky....
. Heyburn served as the Chief Judge
Chief judge
Chief Judge is a title that can refer to the highest-ranking judge of a court that has more than one judge. The meaning and usage of the term vary from one court system to another...
of the Court between 2001 and 2008.
Early life and education
Heyburn was born in Boston, Massachusetts and raised in Louisville, KentuckyLouisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
. His father and grandfather were both attorneys. Heyburn graduated from 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...
with his Bachelor's Degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in 1970 where he also lettered in cross-country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
and track and completed several Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...
s. He earned his juris doctorate degree from the University of Kentucky Law School
University of Kentucky College of Law
The College of Law is a college of the University of Kentucky. Founded initially from a law program at Transylvania University in 1799, the law program at UK began operations in 1908; it was one of the nation's first public law schools...
in 1976 and was a member of its National Moot Court
Moot court
A moot court is an extracurricular activity at many law schools in which participants take part in simulated court proceedings, usually to include drafting briefs and participating in oral argument. The term derives from Anglo Saxon times, when a moot was a gathering of prominent men in a...
Team.
Legal career
Heyburn spent his entire pre-judicial legal career as a private practice attorney with the Louisville, KentuckyLouisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
based law firm of Brown, Todd and Heyburn (now Frost Brown Todd) from 1976 to 1992. His practice focused on civil litigation within the construction industry. He also served as Special Counsel for then - Jefferson County Judge/Executive
Jefferson County Judge/Executive
The Jefferson County Judge/Executive, under state law, is the chief executive of Jefferson County, Kentucky. KRS 67.700 established the position of "County Judge/Executive" for all counties in Kentucky...
Mitch McConnell
Mitch McConnell
Addison Mitchell "Mitch" McConnell, Jr. is the senior United States Senator from Kentucky and the Republican Minority Leader.- Early life, education, and military service :...
. Also, Heyburn served in the US Army Reserve from 1970 to 1976.
Federal judicial career
On the recommendation of Senator Mitch McConnellMitch McConnell
Addison Mitchell "Mitch" McConnell, Jr. is the senior United States Senator from Kentucky and the Republican Minority Leader.- Early life, education, and military service :...
, Heyburn was nominated by President George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
on March 20, 1992 to a seat vacated by Thomas Ballantine, Jr.
Thomas Austin Ballantine, Jr.
Thomas Austin Ballantine, Jr. was a United States federal judge.Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Ballantine received a B.A. from the University of Kentucky in 1948 and an LL.B. from the University of Louisville School of Law in 1954. He was in private practice in Louisville from 1954 to 1964...
as Ballantine went on senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
. Heyburn was confirmed by the US 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 August 12, 1992 on a Senate vote and received commission on August 17, 1992.
In 1994, Chief Justice Rehnquist
William Rehnquist
William Hubbs Rehnquist was an American lawyer, jurist, and political figure who served as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States and later as the 16th Chief Justice of the United States...
appointed Judge Heyburn to serve on the Budget Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States
Judicial Conference of the United States
The Judicial Conference of the United States, formerly known as Conference of Senior Circuit Judges, was created by the United States Congress in 1922 with the principal objective of framing policy guidelines for administration of judicial courts in the United States...
. In January 1997, Judge Heyburn was appointed Chair of the Budget Committee and served in that capacity until December 2004. In that role Judge Heyburn led the development of the appropriations request for the federal judiciary. He testified many times before various House
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
and 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...
committees on budget issues. He consulted with the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
judiciary during the reform of their justice system.
In June 2007, Chief Justice Roberts appointed Judge Heyburn as Chair of the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation
Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation
The United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation is a special body within the United States federal court system which manages multidistrict litigation. It was established by Congress in 1968 under 28 U.S.C...
. The Panel decides whether cases in districts around the nation including overlapping nationwide or statewide class actions, should be centralized in a single judicial district for pretrial purposes.
Judge Heyburn has spoken throughout the country on the congressional budget process
United States budget process
The process of creating the budget for the United States government is known as the budget process. The framework used by Congress to formulate the budget was established by the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921, the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, and by other budget...
, the independent judiciary and the role of the Panel on Multidistrict Litigation
Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation
The United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation is a special body within the United States federal court system which manages multidistrict litigation. It was established by Congress in 1968 under 28 U.S.C...
in complex litigation.