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Robert Cleland

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Robert Cleland
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Current Court Information:
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
Title:   Judge
Position:   Seat #1
Service:
Appointed by:   George H.W. Bush
Active:   6/19/1990 - Present
Preceded by:   James Churchill
Personal History
Born:   1947
Home State:   St. Clair, MI
Bachelors:   Michigan State U., B.A., 1969
Law School:   U. of North Carolina School of Law, J.D., 1972

Contents

Robert Cleland is an Article III federal judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. He joined the court in 1990 after being nominated by President George H.W. Bush.

Early life and education

Born in St. Clair, Michigan, Cleland graduated from Michigan State University with his Bachelor's Degree in 1969, and graduated from the University of North Carolina Law School in 1972 with his Juris Doctor degree. [1]

Professional career

Cleland entered private practice in Port Huron, Michigan from 1972 to 1975. Cleland was the Assisant Prosecuting Attorney for St. Clair County, Michigan Attorney's Office from 1975 to 1977, and the Chief Assistant Deputy Attorney from 1977 to 1980. Cleland was reassigned to Assistant Prosecutor again from 1981 until his appointment to the Federal Bench in 1990. [1]

Judicial career

Eastern District of Michigan

Cleland was nominated to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan by President George H.W. Bush on February 20, 1990 to a seat vacated by James Paul Churchill. Cleland was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on June 18, 1990 and received commission on June 19, 1990.[2]

Notable cases

The notable case section on this page needs to be reformatted.



Reporter's free speech

Judge Cleland ruled on February 9, 2010 that Detroit Free-Press reporter David Ashenfelter did not have to reveal sources of information he got when reporting that a federal prosecutor was under investigation for his handling of a terrorism trial[3].

Former Eastern District of Michigan U.S. Attorney Richard Convertino sued the Justice Department in order to force Ashenfelter to reveal the sources of information used in the story as Covertino felt the information was illegally leaked[3].

The judge dismissed the decision on the basis that the plaintiff engaged in poor strategic planning according to Judge Cleland's ruling[3].

See also

External links

References

Federal judicial offices
Preceded by:
James Churchill
Eastern District of Michigan
1990–Current
Seat #1
Succeeded by:
NA


MichiganMichigan Supreme CourtMichigan Court of AppealsMichigan Circuit CourtMichigan District CourtsMichigan Probate CourtsUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of MichiganUnited States District Court for the Western District of MichiganUnited States bankruptcy court, Eastern District of MichiganUnited States bankruptcy court, Western District of MichiganUnited States Court of Appeals for the Sixth CircuitMichigan countiesMichigan judicial newsMichigan judicial electionsJudicial selection in MichiganMichiganTemplate.jpg
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