Susan Liebeler
Encyclopedia
Susan Wittenberg Liebeler (born July 3, 1942) is an American lawyer and businesswoman, a former official in the administration of President Ronald Reagan
, and a former federal judicial nominee to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
.
, Liebeler graduated from New Castle High School in New Castle in 1960. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan
in 1963 and a law degree from University of California, Los Angeles School of Law in 1966. She served as senior editor of the UCLA Law Review, and was named to the Order of the Coif
.
In 1984, Liebeler was designated by President Ronald Reagan
as a commissioner at the United States International Trade Commission
. In 1986, Reagan named Liebeler as the commission's chairman.
From 1988 until 1994, Liebeler was a partner with the Los Angeles law firm Irell & Manella
.
Since 1995, Liebeler has been president of Lexpert Research Services, a company that she founded.
to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Shiro Kashiwa
. Democrats in the Senate opposed Liebeler's nomination because of some decisions she had made while at the International Trade Commission and because of issues related to her temperament.
On February 23, 1988, the Democratic-controlled U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee narrowly voted 7-6 not to report Liebeler's nomination favorably out of committee. However, the committee also voted 8-5 to report on her nomination without a recommendation. No vote ever was scheduled on her nomination, however, and her nomination was returned to Reagan on October 22, 1988. President George H.W. Bush declined to renominate Liebeler upon winning the presidency.
President George H.W. Bush eventually appointted S. Jay Plager
to fill the seat to which Liebeler had been nominated.
Wesley Liebeler (also known as Jim Liebeler), was killed in a plane crash in Lake Winnipesaukee
in Gilford, New Hampshire
on September 25, 2002. Liebeler currently lives in Malibu, California.
Ronald 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....
, and a former federal judicial nominee to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
-Vacancies and pending nominations:-List of former judges:-Chief judges:Notwithstanding the foregoing, when the court was initially created, Congress had to resolve which chief judge of the predecessor courts would become the first chief judge...
.
Early life and education
Born Susan Levine in New Castle, PennsylvaniaNew Castle, Pennsylvania
New Castle is a city in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, United States, northwest of Pittsburgh and near the Pennsylvania-Ohio border just east of Youngstown, Ohio; in 1910, the total population was 36,280; in 1920, 44,938; and in 1940, 47,638. The population has fallen to 26,309 according to the...
, Liebeler graduated from New Castle High School in New Castle in 1960. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1963 and a law degree from University of California, Los Angeles School of Law in 1966. She served as senior editor of the UCLA Law Review, and was named to the Order of the Coif
Order of the Coif
The Order of the Coif is an honor society for United States law school graduates. A student at an American law school who earns a Juris Doctor degree and graduates in the top 10 percent of his or her class is eligible for membership if the student's law school has a chapter of the...
.
Professional career
Liebeler worked for two different law firms in Los Angeles from 1967 until 1970. She joined Republic Corp. in 1970 as a practicing attorney, leaving Republic in 1971. From 1972 until 1973, Liebeler was general counsel for Verit Industries. From 1973 until 1985, Liebeler was a professor of law at Loyola University in Los Angeles.In 1984, Liebeler was designated by President Ronald Reagan
Ronald 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....
as a commissioner at the United States International Trade Commission
United States International Trade Commission
The United States International Trade Commission is an independent, bi-partisan, quasi-judicial, federal agency of the United States that provides trade expertise to both the legislative and executive branches. Further, the agency determines the impact of imports on U.S...
. In 1986, Reagan named Liebeler as the commission's chairman.
From 1988 until 1994, Liebeler was a partner with the Los Angeles law firm Irell & Manella
Irell & Manella
Irell & Manella LLP was founded in 1941 by lawyers Lawrence E. Irell and Arthur Manella , and has grown to 220 lawyers. It currently has two locations in Southern California: Century City and Newport Beach. Irell is well known for both intellectual property litigation and general business...
.
Since 1995, Liebeler has been president of Lexpert Research Services, a company that she founded.
Failed nomination to the Federal Circuit
On March 23, 1987, Reagan nominated Liebeler to be a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
-Vacancies and pending nominations:-List of former judges:-Chief judges:Notwithstanding the foregoing, when the court was initially created, Congress had to resolve which chief judge of the predecessor courts would become the first chief judge...
to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Shiro Kashiwa
Shiro Kashiwa
Shiro Kashiwa was the first Attorney General of Hawaii when it became a state in 1959. He served as a judge on the United States Court of Claims, then the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C. from 1982 to 1986...
. Democrats in the Senate opposed Liebeler's nomination because of some decisions she had made while at the International Trade Commission and because of issues related to her temperament.
On February 23, 1988, the Democratic-controlled U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee narrowly voted 7-6 not to report Liebeler's nomination favorably out of committee. However, the committee also voted 8-5 to report on her nomination without a recommendation. No vote ever was scheduled on her nomination, however, and her nomination was returned to Reagan on October 22, 1988. President George H.W. Bush declined to renominate Liebeler upon winning the presidency.
President George H.W. Bush eventually appointted S. Jay Plager
S. Jay Plager
Sheldon Jay Plager is a Judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.He received his Bachelors degree from the University of North Carolina in 1952, and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Florida College of Law in 1958, followed by an LL.M. from Columbia Law School...
to fill the seat to which Liebeler had been nominated.
Personal
Liebeler's husband, retired UCLA law professor and onetime counsel to the Warren CommissionWarren Commission
The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy, known unofficially as the Warren Commission, was established on November 27, 1963, by Lyndon B. Johnson to investigate the assassination of United States President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963...
Wesley Liebeler (also known as Jim Liebeler), was killed in a plane crash in Lake Winnipesaukee
Lake Winnipesaukee
Lake Winnipesaukee is the largest lake in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. It is approximately long and from wide , covering — when Paugus Bay is included—with a maximum depth of ....
in Gilford, New Hampshire
Gilford, New Hampshire
Gilford is a town in Belknap County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 7,126 at the 2010 census. Situated on Lake Winnipesaukee, Gilford is home to Governors Island, Ellacoya State Beach, Belknap Mountain State Forest, Gunstock Mountain Ski Resort, and Meadowbrook U.S...
on September 25, 2002. Liebeler currently lives in Malibu, California.