Waverly D. Crenshaw Jr. | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Crenshaw in 2015 | |
| Chief Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee | |
| In office April 15, 2017 – April 15, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Kevin H. Sharp |
| Succeeded by | William L. Campbell Jr. |
| Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee | |
| Assumed office April 12, 2016 | |
| Appointed by | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | William Joseph Haynes Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1956-12-17)December 17, 1956 (age 69) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Education | Vanderbilt University (BA,JD) |
Waverly David Crenshaw Jr. (born December 17, 1956) is aUnited States federal judge of theUnited States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee.
Crenshaw was born on December 17, 1956, inNashville, Tennessee.[1] Crenshaw received aBachelor of Arts degree in 1978 fromVanderbilt University. He received aJuris Doctor in 1981 fromVanderbilt University Law School. From 1981 to 1982, he served as alaw clerk to the Judges of the Chancery and Probate Court ofDavidson County, Tennessee. From 1982 to 1984, he served as a law clerk to JudgeJohn Trice Nixon of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. He served as assistant attorney general of the State of Tennessee from 1984 to 1987. From 1987 to 1990, he was an associate at the law firm of Passino, Delaney & Hildebrand. He joined the law firm ofWaller Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP in 1990 as an associate, becoming partner in 1994; becoming the firstAfrican-American attorney and partner at the firm. He specialized in labor and employment law.[2][3][4][5]
On February 4, 2015, PresidentBarack Obama nominated Crenshaw to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, to the seat vacated by JudgeWilliam Joseph Haynes Jr., who assumedsenior status on December 1, 2014.[6][3] He received a hearing before theSenate Judiciary Committee on June 10, 2015.[7] On July 9, 2015, his nomination was reported out of committee by avoice vote.[8] On April 11, 2016, theSenate confirmed his nomination by a 92–0 vote.[9] He received his commission on April 12, 2016.[5] At the time of his confirmation, Crenshaw was only the second African-American federal judge on active status inTennessee.[10] He became chief judge on April 15, 2017, afterKevin H. Sharp resigned,[5] completing a seven-year-term on April 15, 2024.
Crenshaw was the first African American to become a member of the Belle Meade Country Club, a private golf club inBelle Meade, Tennessee, in 2012.[11]
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee 2016–present | Incumbent |
| Preceded by | Chief Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee 2017–2024 | Succeeded by |