Richard C. Wesley
Encyclopedia
Richard Carl Wesley is a federal judge
on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
.
. He began his career as a lawyer
in private practice in Pittsford
and Geneseo, New York. He served as assistant counsel to the minority party of the New York State Assembly
from 1979 to 1982. From 1983 to 1986, he served as a Republican
member of the Assembly.
Wesley's judicial career began with his election to the New York State Supreme Court in 1986. He served as a trial judge on the Supreme Court from 1987 until 1994, when he was promoted to the Appellate Division
. In 1997, New York
Governor
George Pataki
selected Wesley as his first appointee to serve as an Associate Judge of the New York Court of Appeals
, New York's highest court.
Wesley was featured on President Obama's daily talking points memo. He said of colleague Sonia Sotomayor, "Sonia is an outstanding colleague with a keen legal mind. She brings a wealth of knowledge and hard work to all her endeavors on our court. It is both a pleasure and an honor to serve with her."
nominated Wesley to the Second Circuit in order to fill the seat vacated by Judge Pierre N. Leval
, who took Senior status
. The U.S. Senate confirmed Wesley's nomination just over three months later by a vote of 96-0 on June 11, 2003.
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 Second Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit is one of the thirteen United States Courts of Appeals...
.
Education and background
Wesley attended the State University of New York at Albany followed by Cornell Law SchoolCornell Law School
Cornell Law School, located in Ithaca, New York, is a graduate school of Cornell University and one of the five Ivy League law schools. The school confers three law degrees...
. He began his career as a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
in private practice in Pittsford
Pittsford (village), New York
Pittsford is a village in Monroe County, New York, United States. The population was 1,418 at the 2000 census. It is named after Pittsford, Vermont, the native town of a founding father....
and Geneseo, New York. He served as assistant counsel to the minority party of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
from 1979 to 1982. From 1983 to 1986, he served as a Republican
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...
member of the Assembly.
Wesley's judicial career began with his election to the New York State Supreme Court in 1986. He served as a trial judge on the Supreme Court from 1987 until 1994, when he was promoted to the Appellate Division
New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
The Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division is the intermediate appellate court in New York State. The Appellate Division is composed of four departments .*The First Department covers the Bronx The Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division is the intermediate...
. In 1997, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
George Pataki
George Pataki
George Elmer Pataki is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.- Early life :...
selected Wesley as his first appointee to serve as an Associate Judge of the New York Court of Appeals
New York Court of Appeals
The New York Court of Appeals is the highest court in the U.S. state of New York. The Court of Appeals consists of seven judges: the Chief Judge and six associate judges who are appointed by the Governor to 14-year terms...
, New York's highest court.
Wesley was featured on President Obama's daily talking points memo. He said of colleague Sonia Sotomayor, "Sonia is an outstanding colleague with a keen legal mind. She brings a wealth of knowledge and hard work to all her endeavors on our court. It is both a pleasure and an honor to serve with her."
Second Circuit nomination
On March 5, 2003, 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....
nominated Wesley to the Second Circuit in order to fill the seat vacated by Judge Pierre N. Leval
Pierre N. Leval
Pierre Nelson Leval is a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. At the time of his appointment by President Bill Clinton in 1993, he was a United States District Court Judge in the Southern District of New York....
, who took 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...
. The U.S. Senate confirmed Wesley's nomination just over three months later by a vote of 96-0 on June 11, 2003.