Paul S. Diamond
Encyclopedia
Paul Steven Diamond is a judge
on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
and a former federal judicial nominee to be a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
.
from Columbia University
in 1974 and a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School
in 1977.
Diamond was an assistant district attorney in the Philadelphia District Attorney
's Office from 1977-1979. In 1980 he served as a law clerk to Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Scott J. Riordan (who would later also be appointed as a judge on the Eastern District by President Bill Clinton
). Diamond returned to the District Attorney's Office from 1981 to 1983. He worked in private practice in Philadelphia from 1983 to 2004, when he was appointed by President
George W. Bush
to the Eastern District. Diamond also has worked as an adjunct professor of law at Temple University Beasley School of Law
from 1990 to 1992.
From 1993 until 1995, Diamond worked as the treasurer and as the counsel for the failed 1996 presidential campaign of U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter
.
On January 20, 2004, President George W. Bush nominated Diamond to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania vacated by Herbert J. Hutton
. Diamond was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on June 16, 2004 by a vote of 97-0, and received commission on June 22, 2004.
and replace her with Diamond.
On July 24, 2008, President Bush formally nominated Diamond to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, in conjunction with Pratter's withdrawal. Since Diamond was nominated after July 1, 2008, the unofficial start date of the Thurmond Rule
during a presidential election year, no hearings were scheduled on his nomination, and the nomination was returned to Bush at the end of his term.
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania is one of the original 13 federal judiciary districts created by the Judiciary Act of 1789...
and a former federal judicial nominee to be a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts for the following districts:* District of Delaware* District of New Jersey...
.
Background
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Diamond 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 Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1974 and a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School
University of Pennsylvania Law School
The University of Pennsylvania Law School, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the law school of the University of Pennsylvania. A member of the Ivy League, it is among the oldest and most selective law schools in the nation. It is currently ranked 7th overall by U.S. News & World Report,...
in 1977.
Diamond was an assistant district attorney in the Philadelphia District Attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
's Office from 1977-1979. In 1980 he served as a law clerk to Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Scott J. Riordan (who would later also be appointed as a judge on the Eastern District 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...
). Diamond returned to the District Attorney's Office from 1981 to 1983. He worked in private practice in Philadelphia from 1983 to 2004, when he was appointed by President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George W. Bush
George 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....
to the Eastern District. Diamond also has worked as an adjunct professor of law at Temple University Beasley School of Law
Temple University Beasley School of Law
The Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law is the law school and a constituent academic unit of Temple University. Informally referred to as Temple Law School, the school is located at the Main Campus of Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Temple University James E...
from 1990 to 1992.
From 1993 until 1995, Diamond worked as the treasurer and as the counsel for the failed 1996 presidential campaign of U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter
Arlen Specter
Arlen Specter is a former United States Senator from Pennsylvania. Specter is a Democrat, but was a Republican from 1965 until switching to the Democratic Party in 2009...
.
On January 20, 2004, President George W. Bush nominated Diamond to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania vacated by Herbert J. Hutton
Herbert J. Hutton
Herbert J. Hutton was a United States federal judge.Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Hutton received an A.B. from Lincoln University, Pennsylvania in 1959 and a J.D. from Temple University School of Law in 1962. He was an Attorney, Pennsylvania Housing and Home Finance Agency from 1962 to 1964...
. Diamond was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on June 16, 2004 by a vote of 97-0, and received commission on June 22, 2004.
Third Circuit nomination under Bush
On July 2, 2008, the Legal Intelligencer reported that as part of a package of judicial nominees, President Bush had agreed to withdraw his current nominee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, Gene E. K. PratterGene E. K. Pratter
Gene Ellen Kreyche Pratter is a judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and former nominee to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.-Background:...
and replace her with Diamond.
On July 24, 2008, President Bush formally nominated Diamond to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, in conjunction with Pratter's withdrawal. Since Diamond was nominated after July 1, 2008, the unofficial start date of the Thurmond Rule
Thurmond Rule
The Thurmond Rule is an informal and somewhat amorphous rule of thumb in the United States Senate. While it originated with former Senator Strom Thurmond's opposition to President Lyndon Johnson's nomination of Justice Abe Fortas to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in June of 1968, its...
during a presidential election year, no hearings were scheduled on his nomination, and the nomination was returned to Bush at the end of his term.
Sources
- Duffy, Shannon, P., "Five Tapped for Federal Bench Openings in Pennsylvania," The Legal Intelligencer, July 25, 2008.