Doris Pryor | |
|---|---|
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| Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit | |
| Assumed office December 9, 2022 | |
| Appointed by | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | David Hamilton |
| Magistrate Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana | |
| In office March 1, 2018 – December 9, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Denise K. LaRue |
| Succeeded by | M. Kendra Klump |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Doris Lenea Clark[1] 1977 (age 47–48) Hope, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Education | University of Central Arkansas (BS) Indiana University (JD) |
Doris Lenea Pryor (born 1977)[1] is an Americanlawyer who has served as aUnited States circuit judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit since 2022. She served as aUnited States magistrate judge for theSouthern District of Indiana from 2018 to 2022.
Pryor was born inHope, Arkansas.[2] She graduated from theUniversity of Central Arkansas in 1999 with aBachelor of Science,cum laude. She worked at a construction company from 1999 to 2000. She then attended theIndiana University Maurer School of Law, where she was an editor of theFederal Communications Law Journal and won the top oralist award at the school'smoot court competition. She graduated in 2003 with aJuris Doctor.[3]
After graduating law school, Pryor served as alaw clerk for Chief JudgeLavenski Smith of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit from 2003 to 2004 and for JudgeJames Leon Holmes of theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas from 2004 to 2005. From 2005 to 2006, she served as DeputyPublic Defender for the Arkansas Public Defender's Commission. From 2006 to 2018, she served as anAssistant United States Attorney for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Indiana. She served as National Security Chief for the office from 2014 to 2018.[3] Pryor co-founded the REACH program,[4] a re-entry program that guides and supports former offenders who are at greater risk of returning to prison, in the Southern Indiana District Court.[5]
On November 17, 2017, Pryor was selected to serve as a United States magistrate judge to fill the vacancy left by the death of Magistrate Judge Denise K. LaRue.[2] She served asUnited States magistrate judge for theUnited States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana from March 1, 2018 to December 9, 2022.[3][6]
On May 25, 2022, PresidentJoe Biden nominated Pryor to serve as aUnited States circuit judge for theSeventh Circuit.[3] President Biden nominated Pryor to the seat to be vacated by JudgeDavid Hamilton, who announced his intent to assumesenior status upon confirmation of his successor.[7] SenatorTodd Young announced his support of Pryor's nomination in a statement shortly after President Biden nominated her.[8] On July 13, 2022, a hearing on her nomination was held before theSenate Judiciary Committee.[9] She was the first of Biden's court of appeals nominees to receive support from a state's two Republican senators.[10] On August 4, 2022, her nomination was favorably reported by the committee by a 13–9 vote.[11] On November 28, 2022, Majority LeaderChuck Schumer filedcloture on her nomination.[12] On December 1, 2022, theUnited States Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a 62–31 vote.[13] On December 5, 2022, her nomination was confirmed by a 60–31 vote.[14] She became the first African American woman from Indiana to serve on the 7th Circuit.[15] She received her judicial commission on December 9, 2022.[16] Pryor was the ninthAfrican American woman confirmed as aU.S. circuit judge nominated by President Biden.[15]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain. 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 | ||
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| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit 2022–present | Incumbent |