Sidney A. Fitzwater
Encyclopedia
Sidney Allen Fitzwater is chief United States District Judge for the Northern District of Texas
in Dallas, Texas
.
, Fitzwater earned a BA from Baylor University
in 1975 and earned a JD from Baylor University School of Law in 1976.
from 1976 until 1978 and in private legal practice in Dallas, Texas
from 1978 until 1982. Fitzwater then served as a state district judge in Texas from 1982 until 1986.
. Fitzwater's nomination sparked controversy in part because of allegations raised at his confirmation hearing about alleged voter intimidation in African-American neighborhoods in south Dallas, Texas
during the unsuccessful 1982 re-election campaign of Texas Gov. Bill Clements
. Fitzwater addressed the allegations at his confirmation hearing by apologizing and by asserting that he was not aware that he was asked to place signs—reading "You Can Be Imprisoned" and giving vague descriptions of campaign violations—only in black neighborhoods in south Dallas. Fitzwater also testified that he thought he was participating in an anti-vote-fraud effort, and he noted that he later was dropped from a federal lawsuit by minority groups against him and two other Republican judges in Dallas who were part of the activities. Fitzwater also noted that the lawsuit later was dismissed. At his second hearing in February 1986, Fitzwater told the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
that he would not participate in such sign posting again. "I had no personal intent, nor was I attempting to intimidate minority voters," Fitzwater told then-Sen. Joe Biden
.
Despite this controversy, the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
voted 10-5 on February 27, 1986 to refer Fitzwater's nomination to the full Senate. And then, the United States Senate
confirmed Fitzwater in an unusually narrow (for that time) vote of 52-42 on March 18, 1986. At 32 years of age, he was one of the youngest lawyers ever appointed to the federal bench.
On January 24, 1992, President George H.W. Bush nominated Fitzwater to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. However, with the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee controlled by Democrats, Fitzwater's nomination languished, and he never received a hearing before Bush's presidency ended. President Bill Clinton
chose not to renominate Fitzwater to the Fifth Circuit, nominating Fortunato Benavides
instead.
George Prescott Bush once served as Fitzwater's court clerk
.http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/08/08/little_talk_of_dynasty_as_a_bush_weds/
Fitzwater became chief judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
in 2007.
United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas is a United States district court. Its first judge, Andrew Phelps McCormick, was appointed to the court on April 10, 1879. The court convenes in Dallas, Texas with divisions in Fort Worth, Amarillo, Abilene, Lubbock, San Angelo...
in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
.
Early life and education
Born in Olney, MarylandOlney, Maryland
Olney, a census-designated place and an unincorporated area of Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, is located in the north central part of the county, twenty miles north of Washington, D.C. It was largely agricultural until the 1960s, when growth of the Washington suburbs led to its conversion into...
, Fitzwater earned a BA from Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
in 1975 and earned a JD from Baylor University School of Law in 1976.
Professional career
Fitzwater worked in private legal practice in Houston, TexasHouston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
from 1976 until 1978 and in private legal practice in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
from 1978 until 1982. Fitzwater then served as a state district judge in Texas from 1982 until 1986.
Federal judicial service
On January 29, 1986, Fitzwater was nominated to the be a United States District Judge by President Ronald ReaganRonald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
. Fitzwater's nomination sparked controversy in part because of allegations raised at his confirmation hearing about alleged voter intimidation in African-American neighborhoods in south Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
during the unsuccessful 1982 re-election campaign of Texas Gov. Bill Clements
Bill Clements
William Perry "Bill" Clements, Jr. was the 42nd and 44th Governor of Texas, serving from 1979 to 1983 and 1987 to 1991. Clements was the first Republican to have served as governor of the U.S. state of Texas since Reconstruction...
. Fitzwater addressed the allegations at his confirmation hearing by apologizing and by asserting that he was not aware that he was asked to place signs—reading "You Can Be Imprisoned" and giving vague descriptions of campaign violations—only in black neighborhoods in south Dallas. Fitzwater also testified that he thought he was participating in an anti-vote-fraud effort, and he noted that he later was dropped from a federal lawsuit by minority groups against him and two other Republican judges in Dallas who were part of the activities. Fitzwater also noted that the lawsuit later was dismissed. At his second hearing in February 1986, Fitzwater told the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary is a standing committee of the United States Senate, of the United States Congress. The Judiciary Committee, with 18 members, is charged with conducting hearings prior to the Senate votes on confirmation of federal judges nominated by the...
that he would not participate in such sign posting again. "I had no personal intent, nor was I attempting to intimidate minority voters," Fitzwater told then-Sen. Joe Biden
Joe Biden
Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. is the 47th and current Vice President of the United States, serving under President Barack Obama...
.
Despite this controversy, the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary is a standing committee of the United States Senate, of the United States Congress. The Judiciary Committee, with 18 members, is charged with conducting hearings prior to the Senate votes on confirmation of federal judges nominated by the...
voted 10-5 on February 27, 1986 to refer Fitzwater's nomination to the full Senate. And then, the United States 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...
confirmed Fitzwater in an unusually narrow (for that time) vote of 52-42 on March 18, 1986. At 32 years of age, he was one of the youngest lawyers ever appointed to the federal bench.
On January 24, 1992, President George H.W. Bush nominated Fitzwater to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. However, with the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee controlled by Democrats, Fitzwater's nomination languished, and he never received a hearing before Bush's presidency ended. 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...
chose not to renominate Fitzwater to the Fifth Circuit, nominating Fortunato Benavides
Fortunato Benavides
Fortunato Pedro "Pete" Benavides , is a U.S. circuit judge sitting on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. His chambers are in Austin, Texas.-Early life and education:...
instead.
George Prescott Bush once served as Fitzwater's court clerk
Court clerk
A court clerk is an officer of the court whose responsibilities include maintaining the records of a court. Another duty is to administer oaths to witnesses, jurors, and grand jurors...
.http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/08/08/little_talk_of_dynasty_as_a_bush_weds/
Fitzwater became chief judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas is a United States district court. Its first judge, Andrew Phelps McCormick, was appointed to the court on April 10, 1879. The court convenes in Dallas, Texas with divisions in Fort Worth, Amarillo, Abilene, Lubbock, San Angelo...
in 2007.