Mary Beck Briscoe
Encyclopedia
Mary Beck Briscoe is the Chief Judge
of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.
, and grew up on a farm near that community. She graduated from Dwight Rural High School in 1965 as her small class's valedictorian, according to a June 1, 1995 article in the Kansas City Star. She then earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Kansas
in 1969. Briscoe graduated from the University of Kansas Law School in 1973, and earned a master of laws degree from the University of Virginia
in 1990.
as an attorney-examiner. In 1974, she was appointed assistant U.S. attorney for Kansas, eventually becoming the supervising attorney for the Topeka office. She was appointed to the Kansas Court of Appeals
in 1984 by Gov. John Carlin
, where she served until her appointment to the Tenth Circuit. From 1990 until 1995, Briscoe was the chief judge of the Kansas Court of Appeals.
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 U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.
Early life and education
Briscoe was born in Council Grove, KansasKansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, and grew up on a farm near that community. She graduated from Dwight Rural High School in 1965 as her small class's valedictorian, according to a June 1, 1995 article in the Kansas City Star. She then earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
in 1969. Briscoe graduated from the University of Kansas Law School in 1973, and earned a master of laws degree from the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
in 1990.
Legal career
Briscoe began her legal career in 1973 working for the Interstate Commerce CommissionInterstate Commerce Commission
The Interstate Commerce Commission was a regulatory body in the United States created by the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. The agency's original purpose was to regulate railroads to ensure fair rates, to eliminate rate discrimination, and to regulate other aspects of common carriers, including...
as an attorney-examiner. In 1974, she was appointed assistant U.S. attorney for Kansas, eventually becoming the supervising attorney for the Topeka office. She was appointed to the Kansas Court of Appeals
Kansas Court of Appeals
The Kansas Court of Appeals is the intermediate-level appellate court for the U.S. state of Kansas.-History:The Kansas Legislature crated the first Kansas Court of Appeals in 1895, to help the Kansas Supreme Court with an increasingly heavy caseload. The original statute that created the court...
in 1984 by Gov. John Carlin
John Carlin
John Carlin is a journalist and author, dealing with both sports and politics. His book Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game that Made a Nation about former South African president Nelson Mandela is the basis for the 2009 film Invictus.-Personal life:Carlin was born to a Scottish father...
, where she served until her appointment to the Tenth Circuit. From 1990 until 1995, Briscoe was the chief judge of the Kansas Court of Appeals.