Diane Sykes
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Judge Diane S. Sykes is a federal judge on the United States Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
Early life and education
A native of Milwaukee, Sykes grew up in the Milwaukee suburb of Brown Deer and graduated from Northwestern University, receiving her Bachelor’s degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in 1980. She received her J.D. from Marquette University Law School in 1984. Between college and law school, Justice Sykes worked as a reporter for The Milwaukee Journal.[1].
Legal career
Judicial Career
Milwaukee County Circuit Court
Sykes was elected to the position of Circuit Court Judge in Milwaukee County in 1992. While as a circuit court judge, Sykes handled cases in the misdemeanor, felony and civil divisions.
Wisconsin Supreme Court
In September of 1999, Sykes was appointed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court by former Governor and United States Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson as former Supreme Court Justice Janine Geske resigned to become the interim Milwaukee County Executive[1].
Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals
Sykes was recommended by House Judicary Committee Chairman and Wisconsin Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner to be nominated by President George W. Bush for the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in 2004 replacing Judge John Coffey who sought in senior status [1]. Sykes was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 24, 2004 as the Senate voted on a 70-27 super-majority vote to confirm Sykes[2].
27 Democratic Senators voted against her confirmation. Key notable "no" votes included Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, former New York U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton, California U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer, Dianne Feinstien, Connecticut Senator Joe Liberman, and Masschusetts Senator Ted Kennedy. However, former U.S. Senator Joe Biden of Delaware voted to approve Sykes[3].
On the issues
Judicial Philosophy
When Justice Steinmetz announced his early retirement in July 1999, Sykes expressed a desire to be considered as a replacement. As she related:
"I saw that the philosophical bent of the court was going to be an issue," she says. "I felt I had something to contribute in that area, as well." Throughout her judicial career, Sykes has adhered to a conservative judicial philosophy, which she describes as rooted in the principles of separation of powers and judicial restraint. "I will try very hard not to be a results-oriented jurist," she says, "who figures out how he or she wants the case to come out and then makes the law fit that result. Rather, I'll start at the beginning of the legal analysis and work outward from there."[4]
2008 Opinions
On Constitutional Law
On First Amendment
Equal Protection
The Commerce Clause
Due Process
On Judicial selection
University of Toledo panel
At a symposium convened at the University of Toledo to discuss judicial selection, Judge Sykes noted "court races are now resembling legislative races, both in terms of rhetoric and their expense."[5]
Awards, Memberships and Civic Activities
Sykes is a member of the Federalist Society for Legal Studies and speaks frequently to chapters in colleges across the Midwest.
See also
External links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "WI Judicial Branch", Diane Sykes Profile, November 7, 2008
- ↑ "Senate Judiciary Committee" Confirmation of 108th Congress, January 26, 2009
- ↑ [http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/108/senate/2/votes/152/ "The Washington Post" Roll Call Confirmation Vote of Diane Sykes, January 26, 2009
- ↑ Wisconsin Lawyer Article, Vol. 73, No.6, June 2000
- ↑ Fritz Wenzel, Judicial Experts at UT Law Forum Divided on Value of Elected Bench, Toledo Blade, March 31, 2001
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Federal judges who have served the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit |
|---|---|
| Active judges |
Chief Judge: Easterbrook • Evans • Flaum • Kanne • Posner • Rovner • Sykes • Tinder • Williams • Diane Wood |
| Senior judges | |
| Former judges |
Alschuler • Anderson • Baker • Castle • Cummings • Duffy • Eschbach • Evans • Fairchild • Finnegan • FitzHenry • Gresham • Grosscup • Hastings • Jenkins • Kerner, Sr. • Kerner, Jr. • Kiley • Knoch • Kohlsaat • Lindley • Mack • Major • Minton • Page • Parkinson • Pell • Schnackenberg • Seaman • Showalter • Sparks • Sprecher • Stevens • Swaim • Swygert • Tone • Treanor • Wood • Woods |
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The Wisconsin Project on Judgepedia
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