Justin Wilson (lawyer)
Encyclopedia
Justin Potter Wilson is an American lawyer and Republican
politician who is currently Tennessee
state Comptroller of the Treasury. He formerly was Tennessee deputy governor, was a federal judicial nominee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and has been an adjunct professor at Vanderbilt University Law School
.
, in 1945, Wilson earned a bachelor's degree from Stanford University
in 1967, a law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School
in 1970, an L.L.M. in taxation from New York University
in 1974, and a master's degree in criminal justice from the unaccredited Kennedy-Western University in 1995.
, in which position he was the governor's chief policy advisor. He also served as a commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
.
As top policy advisor to Governor Sundquist, Wilson focused on environmental issues. He was honored as the state's Conservationist of the
Year in 1997. The Justin P. Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park
was renamed in his honor in 2002 in recognition of his environmental work, which included cleanup of pollution in the Pigeon River
and negotiating land donations from the Tennessee Valley Authority
. He was named the Tennessee Conservation League’s “Conservationist of the Year” in 1997. He battled United States Environmental Protection Agency
smog
rules and toxic waste incineration at Oak Ridge National Laboratory
, and negotiated water allocation of the Tennessee River
with the TVA.
On January 15, 2009, Wilson was elected Tennessee state comptroller by the Tennessee General Assembly
.
nominated Wilson to a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit that became vacant after Judge Robert B. Krupansky
assumed senior status
. Wilson received a rating of "qualified" from the American Bar Association
. Wilson's nomination languished in the Democrat
-controlled U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, which never held a hearing. Wilson's nomination expired with the end of Bush's presidency. Several years later, Judge Karen Nelson Moore
was confirmed to the seat to which Wilson had been nominated.
of Vanderbilt University. He also has served as foreman of the Davidson County Grand Jury and as a member of the executive committee of Meharry Medical College.
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...
politician who is currently Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
state Comptroller of the Treasury. He formerly was Tennessee deputy governor, was a federal judicial nominee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and has been an adjunct professor at Vanderbilt University Law School
Vanderbilt University Law School
Vanderbilt University Law School is a graduate school of Vanderbilt University. Established in 1874, it is one of the oldest law schools in the southern United States. Vanderbilt Law has consistently ranked among the top 20 law schools in the nation, and is currently ranked 16th in the 2012...
.
Early life and education
Born in Oakland, CaliforniaOakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, in 1945, Wilson earned a bachelor's degree from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1967, a law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School
Vanderbilt University Law School
Vanderbilt University Law School is a graduate school of Vanderbilt University. Established in 1874, it is one of the oldest law schools in the southern United States. Vanderbilt Law has consistently ranked among the top 20 law schools in the nation, and is currently ranked 16th in the 2012...
in 1970, an L.L.M. in taxation from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
in 1974, and a master's degree in criminal justice from the unaccredited Kennedy-Western University in 1995.
Private practice of law
Wilson is a member of the bar in the states of Tennessee and New York. He practiced law with the Nashville law firm of Waller, Lansden, Dortch & Davis from 1976 until 1996. He rejoined the firm in 2003 and resigned in 2009 when he became state comptroller.Government service
From 1996 until 2003, Wilson was deputy governor to Tennessee Governor Don SundquistDon Sundquist
Donald Kenneth Sundquist is a former governor and congressman from Tennessee. A Republican, he served as the 47th Governor of Tennessee from 1995 to 2003...
, in which position he was the governor's chief policy advisor. He also served as a commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is a Cabinet-level agency within the government of the U.S. state of Tennessee, headed by the Tennessee Commissioner of Environment and Conservation....
.
As top policy advisor to Governor Sundquist, Wilson focused on environmental issues. He was honored as the state's Conservationist of the
Year in 1997. The Justin P. Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park
Cumberland Trail
The Cumberland Trail is a hiking trail following a line of ridges and gorges along the eastern escarpment of the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee. The trail begins at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park and ends at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park and Prentice Cooper Wildlife...
was renamed in his honor in 2002 in recognition of his environmental work, which included cleanup of pollution in the Pigeon River
Pigeon River (Tennessee - North Carolina)
The Pigeon River of western North Carolina and east Tennessee rises above Canton, North Carolina. Below this, it flows roughly parallel to Interstate 40 for many miles and is impounded by a dam -- Walters Dam -- belonging to Progress Energy before entering Tennessee, where it flows into the French...
and negotiating land donations from the Tennessee Valley Authority
Tennessee Valley Authority
The Tennessee Valley Authority is a federally owned corporation in the United States created by congressional charter in May 1933 to provide navigation, flood control, electricity generation, fertilizer manufacturing, and economic development in the Tennessee Valley, a region particularly affected...
. He was named the Tennessee Conservation League’s “Conservationist of the Year” in 1997. He battled United States Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
smog
Smog
Smog is a type of air pollution; the word "smog" is a portmanteau of smoke and fog. Modern smog is a type of air pollution derived from vehicular emission from internal combustion engines and industrial fumes that react in the atmosphere with sunlight to form secondary pollutants that also combine...
rules and toxic waste incineration at Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge National Laboratory is a multiprogram science and technology national laboratory managed for the United States Department of Energy by UT-Battelle. ORNL is the DOE's largest science and energy laboratory. ORNL is located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, near Knoxville...
, and negotiated water allocation of the Tennessee River
Tennessee River
The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. It is approximately 652 miles long and is located in the southeastern United States in the Tennessee Valley. The river was once popularly known as the Cherokee River, among other names...
with the TVA.
On January 15, 2009, Wilson was elected Tennessee state comptroller by the Tennessee General Assembly
Tennessee General Assembly
The Tennessee General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Tennessee.-Constitutional structure:According to the Tennessee State Constitution of 1870, the General Assembly is a bicameral legislature and consists of a Senate of thirty-three members and a House of Representatives of...
.
Failed judicial nomination
On March 20, 1992, President George H. W. BushGeorge 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...
nominated Wilson to a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit that became vacant after Judge Robert B. Krupansky
Robert B. Krupansky
Robert B. Krupansky was a United States federal judge.Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Krupansky was in the United States Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1946. He received a B.A. from Case Western Reserve University in 1946, and an LL.B. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 1948. He was a...
assumed 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...
. Wilson received a rating of "qualified" from 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...
. Wilson's nomination languished in the Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
-controlled U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, which never held a hearing. Wilson's nomination expired with the end of Bush's presidency. Several years later, Judge Karen Nelson Moore
Karen Nelson Moore
Karen Nelson Moore is a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Her chambers are located in Cleveland, Ohio.-Education and legal training:...
was confirmed to the seat to which Wilson had been nominated.
Professional activities
Wilson is or was a member of the Financial Advisory Board of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and chairman of the Nashville Electric Board, Davidson County Metropolitan Health Board, Community Health Agency of Nashville and Davidson County, and the Committee of Visitors of the Blair School of MusicBlair School of Music
The Blair School of Music provides undergraduate conservatory-style education in music performance, theory, and history at Vanderbilt University, a major research university located in Nashville, Tennessee...
of Vanderbilt University. He also has served as foreman of the Davidson County Grand Jury and as a member of the executive committee of Meharry Medical College.
External links
- Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury official website