William Pryor
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William Holcomb Pryor, Jr. (b. 1962) is a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. He joined the court in 2005 after being nominated by President George W. Bush.
Early Life and Education
Born in Mobile, Alabama, Pryor graduated from Northeast Louisiana with his Bachelor's Degree in 1984 and later from Tulane Law with his Juris Doctor degree in 1987.[1]
Legal Career
Pryor was a law clerk for federal appeals judge John Minor Wisdom in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals from 1987 to 1988. Pryor entered private practice in Alabama from 1988 to 1995. Pryor also served as an Adjunct Professor at Samford University's Cumberland School of Law from 1989 to 1995. Pryor served as Deputy Attorney General in the Alabama Attorney General's Office from 1995 to 1997. Pryor was appointed by the People of Alabama to Attorney General in 1996 and again in 2000. Pryor served as the top law enforcement official, Attorney General of Alabama, until 2004.[1]
Federal Judicial Career
Pryor was nominated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit by President George W. Bush on February 14, 2005, to a seat vacated by Emmett Cox. Pryor was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on June 9, 2005 on a Senate vote and received commission on June 10, 2005. [1][2]
Nomination and Confirmation
Pryor was nominated to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals by President George W. Bush on April 9, 2003 to fill a seat vacated by Judge Emmett Cox. After his nomination stalled in the Senate due to Democratic opposition, he was installed as judge via recess appointment on February 20, 2004 during the Congress's recess period, bypassing the U.S. Senate confirmation process. Pryor resigned as Attorney General that same day and took his judicial oath for a term lasting until the end of 2006 when the next Congressional session would begin.
Many Democrats criticized him for his comments regarding homosexuality and abortion, as well as for what they described as his extreme right-wing views and reputation as a conservative who might allow his personal beliefs to cloud judicial judgment. Pryor's nomination was prevented from being put to a vote in the U.S. Senate by Democrats who had filibustered his nomination.[citation needed]
On May 23, 2005 Senator John McCain announced an agreement between seven Republican and seven Democratic U.S. Senators, the Gang of 14, to ensure an up-or-down vote on Pryor and several other stalled Bush nominees, including Priscilla Owen and Janice Brown. On June 9, 2005 he was confirmed to the Eleventh Circuit by a vote of (53-45). He received his commission on June 10, 2005 and on June 20, 2005 he was sworn in to his new lifetime judicial position at the age of 43.[1]
External Links
- saveourcourts.org commentary on Pryor nomination to 11th Cir.
- talkleft.com commentary on Pryor nomination to 11th Cir.
- now.org commentary on Pryor
- US DOJ webpage
- White House judicial nominee biography
- Campaign Contributions Made by William Pryor
- Fight Brewing Over Pryor Court Nomination
References
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Federal judges who have served the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit |
|---|---|
| Active judges |
Chief Judge: Dubina • Barkett • Birch • Black • Carnes • Edmondson • Hull • Marcus • Martin • Pryor • Tjoflat • Wilson |
| Senior judges | |
| Former judges |
Clark • Dyer • Godbold • Hatchett • Henderson • Johnson • Jones • Morgan • Rives • Roney • Simpson • Tuttle • Vance |
