Born 1951 in Desoto County, MS

Federal Judicial Service:
Judge, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
Nominated by William J. Clinton on December 7, 1995, to a seat vacated by Odell Horton. Confirmed by the Senate on December 22, 1995, and received commission on December 26, 1995. Service terminated on September 8, 2011, due to appointment to another judicial position.

Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
Nominated by Barack Obama on January 5, 2011, to a seat vacated by Ronald Lee Gilman. Confirmed by the Senate on September 6, 2011, and received commission on September 8, 2011.

Other Federal Judicial Service:
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge, Western District of Tennessee, 1988-1995

Education:
Memphis State University (now University of Memphis), B.A., 1974
Memphis State University (now University of Memphis), Humphreys School of Law, J.D., 1979

Professional Career:

Private practice, Memphis, Tennessee, 1979-1980
Staff attorney, Employment Law & Economic Development Unit, Memphis [Tennessee] Area Legal Services, 1980
Assistant public defender, Shelby County, Tennessee, 1980-82
Adjunct professor, Shelby State Community College, 1981-1984
Judge, Tennessee General Sessions Criminal Court, 1982-1988
Adjunct professor, Memphis State University (now University of Memphis), Humphreys School of Law, 1985-1988
Board member, Federal Judicial Center, 2004-2008

Other Nominations/Recess Appointments:

Nominated to U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, December 1, 2010; no Senate vote