Adalberto Jordan | |
|---|---|
 Jordan in 2015 | |
| Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | |
| Assumed office February 17, 2012 | |
| Appointed by | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Susan H. Black |
| Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Southern District of Florida | |
| In office September 9, 1999 – February 24, 2012 | |
| Appointed by | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Lenore Carrero Nesbitt |
| Succeeded by | Robin L. Rosenberg |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Adalberto Jose Jordan (1961-12-07)December 7, 1961 (age 64) Havana, Cuba |
| Party | Democratic |
| Education | University of Miami (BA,JD) |
Adalberto Jose Jordan (born December 7, 1961) is an American lawyer who serves as aUnited States circuit judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. He is also anadjunct professor at theUniversity of Miami School of Law, hisalma mater, and at Florida International University's College of Law.[1] In February 2016,The New York Times identified Jordan as a potential Supreme Court nominee to replace JusticeAntonin Scalia.[2] In early March, Jordan removed himself from consideration.[3]
Jordan was born inHavana,Cuba, and came with his family toMiami, Florida, when he was a young boy, in 1968.
Jordan graduated fromSt. Brendan High School in 1980.[4] He received aBachelor of Arts degree in politics,magna cum laude, from theUniversity of Miami, in 1984.[5] While an undergraduate at the University of Miami, Jordan was awalk-on member of the baseball team.[6] Jordan then earned hisJuris Doctorsumma cum laude, from theUniversity of Miami School of Law in 1987, where he was the Articles & Comments Editor for theUniversity of Miami Law Review, graduating second in his law school class.[7]
Jordan served as alaw clerk for JudgeThomas Alonzo Clark of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit inAtlanta, Georgia, from 1987 to 1988, and for JusticeSandra Day O'Connor of theUnited States Supreme Court from 1988 to 1989.[8] In 1989, Jordan returned to Miami to work as anassociate forSteel Hector & Davis, a prestigious local law firm that was acquired bySquire, Sanders & Dempsey in 2005. Despite being there a relatively short time, Jordan was named apartner at Steel, Hector & Davis by his fifth year, where he focused onappellate andcommercial law.[9] Shortly after making partner, Jordan made the transition to public-sector lawyering, and became anAssistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida in 1994.[8] In 1998, he was appointed Chief of the Appellate Division, and served in that position for about one year. Since 1990, he has been anadjunct professor at theUniversity of Miami School of Law.[8]
On March 15, 1999, PresidentBill Clinton nominated Jordan to the seat on theUnited States District Court for the Southern District of Florida that had been vacated by JudgeLenore Carrero Nesbitt.[8] Jordan was confirmed to the federal bench by theUnited States Senate on September 8, 1999, by a 93–1 vote, with then-SenatorBob Smith ofNew Hampshire as the lone dissenting vote.[10] Jordan received his commission on September 9, 1999. His service as a district court judge was terminated on February 24, 2012 when he was elevated to the court of appeals.[8]
In May 2011, theSouth Florida Daily Business Review reported that Jordan was being vetted by theFederal Bureau of Investigation in anticipation of President Obama nominating Jordan to a vacancy on theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit created by JudgeSusan H. Black, who assumedsenior status in February 2011.[11][8] On August 2, 2011, President Barack Obama nominated Jordan for the judgeship.
On October 13, 2011, theSenate Judiciary Committee approved his nomination by avoice vote.[12] On February 9, 2012, Senate Majority LeaderHarry Reid moved to invokecloture on Jordan's nomination, thereby cutting off debate and ending a Republicanfilibuster of Jordan's nomination. On February 13, 2012, theUnited States Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by an 89–5 vote.[13] On February 15, 2012, Jordan was confirmed by a 94–5 vote.[14] Jordan received his judicial commission on February 17, 2012.[8]
Adalberto Jordan is married to Lazara Esther Jordan, née Castillo, a teacher at St. Brendan Catholic High School, of which both are alumni.[7][18]
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Southern District of Florida 1999–2012 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit 2012–present | Incumbent |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
