Nancy Torresen

Nancy Torresen
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Current Court Information:
United States District Court for the District of Maine
Title:	Judge
Position:	Seat #2
Service:
Appointed by:	Barack Obama
Active:	10/3/2011 - Present
Preceded by:	D. Brock Hornby
Personal History
Born:	1959
Home State:	Ridgewood, NJ
Bachelors:	Hope College, B.A., 1981
Law School:	U. of Michigan Law, J.D., 1987

Nancy Torreson is a federal judge for the United States District Court for the District of Maine. She joined the court in 2011 after an appointment from Barack Obama. She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on October 3, 2011. Prior to appointment, Torresen was the Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Maine, a position she held from 2001 until 2011.

Early life and education

Torresen attended Hope College and graduated with an B.A. in 1981. Torresen received a J.D. from University of Michigan Law School in 1987.

Professional career

Torresen began her professional career as a law clerk for Judge Conrad Cyr of the District of Maine from 1987 to 1988. She then spent two years in private practice in Washington D.C. for joining the U.S. Attorney's office as an Assistant Attorney in the District of Maine. She pent four years there, before leaving in 1994 for a post as the Assistant Attorney General for State of Maine. She then returned to the District of Maine as an Assistant U.S. Attorney from 2001 until 2011.

Judicial career

District of Maine

Torreson was nominated by President Obama on March 2, 2011 to fill a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Maine vacated by D. Brock Hornby. Obama said of the nomination, “I am proud to nominate these three outstanding candidates to serve on the United States District Court bench. They all have long and distinguished records of service, and I am confident they will serve on the federal bench with distinction.”

She was rated Unanimously Well Qualified by the American Bar Association. She had a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on May 4, 2011. You can find her Committee Questionnaire Available Here and her Questions for the Record Available Here.

On October 3, 2011 Torresen was confirmed by the U.S. Senate by a voice vote.

Notable cases

• Occupy Augusta Protestors Eviction  Judge(s):Nancy Torresen      *Freeman v. Morris 11-cv-00452-NT

In late November 2011, federal judge Nancy Torresen brokered a deal that allowed Occupy Augusta protesters to remain in a public park for an additional week. Torresen issued the order on November 28, after protesters said they would face arrest rather than leave Augusta's Capitol Park. Attorney Lynne Williams, acting on behalf of the protesters, had sought a temporary restraining order to prevent police from shutting down the protests. The protesters did not apply for a permit. The lawsuit alleged that requiring protesters to obtain a permit violates their First Amendment rights. A hearing to determine what happens after the week-long reprieve took place on December 5th. Update On December 9, 2011, Torrensen ruled against the tent city in Augusta, affirming the right of the state to evict the Occupy protesters. While she held that the protesters were protected by the First Amendment, the state was within its rights to place restrictions on the time and place of the protest by requiring a permit. The protesters opted not to appeal the decision or apply for a permit and instead broke down the camp and vacated the premises.

See also

• News: Federal judge allows protesters to remain in park, November 30, 2011

External links

• Morning Sentinel, "Torresen sworn in as U.S. District Court judge," May 4, 2012
• Portland Press Herald, "Assistant U.S. attorney chosen as next federal judge for Maine," March 3, 2011

References

Federal judicial offices
Preceded by: D. Brock Hornby	District of Maine 2011–Present Seat #2	Succeeded by: NA