Mary Scriven

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Mary Scriven
Current Court Information:
United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
Title:   Judge
Station:   Orlando, FL
Service:
Appointed by:   George W. Bush
Active:   9/30/2008 - Current
Preceded by:   Patricia Fawsett
Past post:   Middle District of Florida, Magistrate
Past term:   1997-2008
Personal History
Born:   1962
Home State:   Atlanta, GA
Bachelors:   Duke U., B.A., 1983
Law School:   Florida State U. Law, J.D., 1987

Contents

Mary Stenson Scriven is an Article III federal judge for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. She joined the court in 2008 after being nominated by President George W. Bush. Prior to appointment, Scriven was a magistrate judge at the Middle District of Florida.[1]

Early life and education

A native of Georgia, Scriven graduated from Duke University with her Bachelor's Degree 1983 and her juris doctorate from the Florida State University College of Law in 1987.[1]

Professional career

Scriven started her legal career as a private practice licensed in the State of Florida from 1987 to 1997 and also served as an Associate professor for the Stetson University College of Law from 1996 to 1997.[1]

Judicial career

Middle District of Florida, Magistrate

Scriven started her judicial career as a federal magistrate judge in the Middle District of Florida from 1997 to 2008.[1]

Middle District of Florida

On the recommendation of U.S. Senator Mel Martinez, Scriven was nominated by George W. Bush on July 10, 2008 to a seat vacated by Patricia Fawsett. Scriven was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on September 26, 2008 and received commission on September 30, 2008.[1]

Notable cases

Welfare drug test case

On October 25, 2011, Judge Scriven issued a temporary block against a state law that requires mandatory drug tests for all state applicants to the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. Judge Scriven is currently presiding over a case brought by the ACLU on behalf of a man, Luis Lebron, seeking welfare assistance for his family but refusing to take the drug test. The temporary block will remain in effect until the constitutionality of the law is resolved in the case.[2] See the full story here.

Florida drug law challenge

On July 27, 2011, Judge Scriven declared Florida's Drug Abuse Prevention and Control law unconstitutional after it was challenged for not including an intent requirement. According to the ruling, Florida is the only state to have eliminated the intent requirement from its drug laws, which means that in Florida a "person is guilty of a drug offense if he delivers a controlled substance without regard to whether he does so purposefully, knowingly, recklessly, or negligently," according to Judge Scriven. She went on to say, "Other states have rejected such a draconian and unreasonable construction of the law that would criminalize the ‘unknowing’ possession of a controlled substance," and found Florida’s drug law to be unconstitutional "on its face."[3]

See also

External links

References

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