Allison Jones Rushing | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Rushing in 2022 | |
| Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit | |
| Assumed office March 21, 2019 | |
| Appointed by | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Allyson K. Duncan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Allison Blair Jones (1982-04-23)April 23, 1982 (age 43) |
| Spouse | |
| Education | Wake Forest University (BA) Duke University (JD) |
Allison Jones Rushing (born April 23, 1982)[1] is an American attorney and jurist serving as aUnited States circuit judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit since 2019.
Born inHendersonville, North Carolina, Rushing graduated fromEast Henderson High School inEast Flat Rock, North Carolina.[2] Rushing studiedmusic atWake Forest University, graduating in 2004 with aBachelor of Arts,summa cum laude, and was inPhi Beta Kappa. She then attended theDuke University School of Law, where she was an executive editor of theDuke Law Journal. She graduated in 2007 with aJuris Doctor,magna cum laude.[3][4]
In 2005, Rushing was a law studentintern at theAlliance Defending Freedom (ADF), aconservative Christiannonprofit organization.[5][6] Rushing wrote or co-wrote severalamicus briefs on behalf of ADF and spoke at a number of ADF events.[6] In 2006, Rushing was a summer associate atWilliams & Connolly, aWashington, D.C. law firm.[1] In 2007, Rushing was a summer law clerk with the Department of Justice.[7]
After graduating from law school, Rushingclerked for then-JudgeNeil Gorsuch of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit from 2007 to 2008 and JudgeDavid B. Sentelle of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit from 2008 to 2009.[8][9] From 2009 to 2010, Rushing returned to Williams & Connolly as anassociate. She clerked for Associate JusticeClarence Thomas of theSupreme Court of the United States during the 2010–2011 term.[10][11][12]
Following the end of her clerkship in 2011, Rushing rejoined Williams & Connolly in its Washington, D.C. office underKannon Shanmugam. Rushing became a member of theFederalist Society in 2012.[1] She volunteered as a legal advisor toMitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign.[7] Rushing was named partner at Williams & Connolly in January 2017. After being appointed to the Fourth Circuit, she left Williams & Connolly.[13][14][15]
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On August 27, 2018, PresidentDonald Trump announced his intent to nominate Rushing to serve as a United States Circuit Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.[14][16] Her official nomination was received on the same day by theUnited States Senate.[17] She was nominated to the seat being vacated byAllyson K. Duncan, who previously announced her intention to assumesenior status upon the confirmation of her successor. On October 17, 2018, a hearing on her nomination was held before theSenate Judiciary Committee.[18] During Rushing's confirmation hearing, she was questioned about her ties to the ADF. Rushing was asked if she would recuse herself from ADF-related cases if confirmed. She replied: "I would determine the appropriate action with the input of the parties, consultation of these rules and ethical canons, and consultation with my colleagues."[6] Asked about ADF being labeled a "hate group" by theSouthern Poverty Law Center, Rushing said: "Hate is wrong, and it should have no place in our society. In my experience with ADF, I have not witnessed anyone expressing or advocating hate."[6]
On January 3, 2019, her nomination was returned to the President underRule XXXI, Paragraph 6 of theUnited States Senate. On January 23, 2019, President Trump announced his intent to renominate Rushing for a federal judgeship.[19] Her nomination was sent to the Senate later that day.[20] On February 7, 2019, her nomination was reported out of committee by a 12–10 vote.[21] On March 4, 2019, the Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a 52–43 vote.[22] On March 5, 2019, Rushing was confirmed by a 53–44 vote.[23] At the time of her confirmation, she was the youngestfederal judge in the United States.[24] Rushing received her judicial commission on March 21, 2019.[25][26]
On September 9, 2020, President Trump named Rushing as a potential choice to fill aU.S. Supreme Court vacancy if one should open.[27] After the death ofU.S. Supreme Court JusticeRuth Bader Ginsburg on September 18, President Trump considered nominating Rushing to replace her; however, he chose JudgeAmy Coney Barrett of theU.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit instead.[28]
Rushing is a Baptist.[29] She is married to Blake Rushing.[7]
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 Fourth Circuit 2019–present | Incumbent |