Andre Mathis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit | |
| Assumed office September 27, 2022 | |
| Appointed by | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Bernice B. Donald |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Andre Bernard Mathis 1980 (age 44–45) Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Education | University of Memphis (BA,JD) |
Andre Bernard Mathis[1] (born 1980)[2] is an American lawyer who is serving as aUnited States circuit judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Mathis earned aBachelor of Arts from theUniversity of Memphis in 2003 and aJuris Doctor from theCecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 2007.[3]
After graduating from law school, Mathis joined theMemphis law firm of Glankler Brown as anassociate. He worked incriminal defense as a member of the Criminal Justice Act Panel[4] for the Western District of Tennessee and with the TennesseeInnocence Project.[5][6] He served as a member of the Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel for theUnited States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee from 2010 to 2011 and again from 2019 to 2020. He was also a member of the Federal Defender Evaluation Committee for theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit from 2012 to 2013.[7][8][9] He served on the Disciplinary Hearing Committee of the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility from 2015 to 2021 and on the Shelby County Ethics Commission from 2013 to 2017.[7]
In January 2020, Mathis joined the Memphis office of Butler Snow LLP.[10][11]
On November 17, 2021, PresidentJoe Biden announced his intent to nominate Mathis to serve as aUnited States circuit judge for theSixth Circuit;[7] his nomination was sent to the Senate the following day. President Biden nominated Mathis to the seat vacated by JudgeBernice B. Donald, who announced her intent to assumesenior status upon confirmation of her successor.[12] The nomination drew controversy, as both senators from Tennessee had declined to return favorableblue slips and said that the White House had not consulted with them.[13] On January 3, 2022, his nomination was returned to the President underRule XXXI, Paragraph 6 of theUnited States Senate;[14] he was renominated later the same day.[15]
On January 12, 2022, a contentious hearing on his nomination was held before theSenate Judiciary Committee.[16] During the hearing, SenatorMarsha Blackburn complained that not only had she not turned in a blue slip, but that she had never been sent a blue slip asking whether she supported the nomination, something that had never happened before. Senate Judiciary Committee ChairmanDick Durbin conceded that this was a serious mistake and apologized, but said that Mathis was personally blameless for the oversight.[17] Blackburn then said she had "serious concerns" about Mathis' lack of experience in federal law and referenced his "rap sheet" due in part to three previous speeding tickets that he didn't respond to.[18] She stated, "He has a rap sheet with a laundry list of citations, including multiple failures to appear in court. In Tennessee, we expect our judges to respect the law. If Mr. Mathis thought he was above the law before, imagine how he'll conduct himself if he's confirmed as a federal judge."[19] Blackburn and fellow senatorBill Hagerty had recommended an alternative pick,Camille McMullen, a Democratic appointee to theTennessee Court of Criminal Appeals who is also Black.[20]
On February 10, 2022, his nomination was favorably reported by the committee by a 12–10 vote.[21][22] On August 7, 2022, Majority LeaderChuck Schumer filedcloture on his nomination.[23] On September 7, 2022, theUnited States Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 48–45 vote.[24] On September 8, 2022, his nomination was confirmed by a 48–47 vote.[25][26] SenatorJohn Kennedy broke ranks with his Republican colleagues to help confirm Mathis, the first Black man to be confirmed to any federal circuit court in 3,160 days sinceRobert L. Wilkins was confirmed to theUnited States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on January 13, 2014.[27] He received his judicial commission on September 27, 2022.[28]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit 2022–present | Incumbent |