Kurt Engelhardt | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit | |
| Assumed office May 10, 2018 | |
| Appointed by | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Edith Brown Clement |
| Chief Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana | |
| In office October 1, 2015 – May 15, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Sarah S. Vance |
| Succeeded by | Nannette Jolivette Brown |
| Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana | |
| In office December 13, 2001 – May 15, 2018 | |
| Appointed by | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Morey Leonard Sear |
| Succeeded by | Greg G. Guidry |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Kurt Damian Engelhardt (1960-04-21)April 21, 1960 (age 65) New Orleans,Louisiana, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Education | Louisiana State University (BA,JD) |
Kurt Damian Engelhardt (born April 21, 1960) is aUnited States circuit judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Previously, he was theChief United States district judge of theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Born inNew Orleans,Louisiana, Engelhardt attendedBrother Martin High School in New Orleans, received aBachelor of Arts degree fromLouisiana State University in 1982 and aJuris Doctor fromLouisiana State University Law Center in 1985. He was alaw clerk to Judge Charles Grisbaum of the Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal from 1985 to 1987. He was in private practice inLouisiana from then until 2001, first at the law firm of Little & Metzger and then at Hailey, McNamara, Hall, Larmann & Papale LLP. Concurrent with his private practice, he was appointed by the Governor of Louisiana to serve on the Louisiana Judiciary Commission, which adjudicates statewide ethics complaints against judges. In 1998, he was elected Chairman of the Commission by his fellow members.[1] He has been a member of the New Orleans chapter of theFederalist Society since 2002.[2]
On September 4, 2001, Engelhardt was nominated by PresidentGeorge W. Bush to a seat on theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana vacated byMorey Leonard Sear. Engelhardt was confirmed by theUnited States Senate on December 11, 2001, and received his commission on December 13, 2001. He served as Chief Judge from October 1, 2015 to May 15, 2018.[3] During his service on the bench, Engelhardt served on the Judicial Conference Committee of Federal-State Jurisdiction, appointed in 2004 by Chief JusticeWilliam Rehnquist and reappointed in 2007 by Chief JusticeJohn Roberts. From 2011 to 2012, he served as President of the New Orleans Chapter of theFederal Bar Association.[1] His service on the district court terminated on May 15, 2018, upon elevation to the court of appeals.[3]
On September 28, 2017, PresidentDonald Trump announced his intent to nominate Engelhardt to theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, transmitting the nomination to theUnited States Senate on October 5, 2017. He was nominated to the seat being vacated by JudgeEdith Brown Clement, who had announced her intention to assumesenior status upon the confirmation of her successor.[4] TheAmerican Bar Association unanimously rated Engelhardt as "Well Qualified", the committee's highest rating.[5]
On January 3, 2018, his nomination was returned to the President underRule XXXI, Paragraph 6 of theUnited States Senate.[6] On January 5, 2018, PresidentDonald Trump announced his intent to renominate Engelhardt to a federal appellate judgeship.[7] On January 8, 2018, his renomination to the same seat was sent to theSenate,[8] and a hearing on his nomination before the Senate Judiciary Committee was held on January 10, 2018.[9] On February 8, 2018, the Senate Judiciary Committee reported his nomination out of committee by a 15–6 vote.[10][11] On May 7, 2018, the Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 64–31 vote.[12] On May 9, 2018, his nomination was confirmed by a 62–34 vote.[13] He received his judicial commission on May 10, 2018.[3]
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana 2001–2018 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chief Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana 2015–2018 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit 2018–present | Incumbent |