Tamara W. Ashford

Tamara Wenda Ashford (born December 19, 1968) is currently an Article I Judge of the United States Tax Court and formerly the Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Appellate and Review in the Tax Division at the United States Department of Justice.

Tamara Ashford
Judge of the United States Tax Court
Incumbent
Assumed office December 19, 2014
Appointed by	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Mary Cohen
Acting United States Assistant Attorney General for the Tax Division
In office June 6, 2014 – December 19, 2014
President	Barack Obama
Attorney General	Eric Holder
Preceded by	Kathryn M. Keneally[1][2]
Succeeded by	David A. Hubbert (acting)[3]
Personal details
Born	Tamara Wenda Ashford (1968-12-19) December 19, 1968[4] Boston, Massachusetts[5]
Alma mater	Duke University (A.B.) Vanderbilt University (J.D.) University of Miami (L.L.M.)

Biography

Ashford received an A.B. degree from Duke University, a J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School and an LL.M. degree from University of Miami School of Law.[6] She began her legal career as a law clerk to Judge John C. Martin of the North Carolina Court of Appeals. From 1997 to 2001, she served as an attorney with the Appellate Section of the Tax Division at the United States Department of Justice. From 2001 to 2004, she served as a senior associate at the law firm of Miller & Chevalier in Washington, D.C. From 2004 to 2007, she served as Assistant to the Commissioner of Internal Revenue. From 2008 to 2011, she served as a member of the Tax Controversy and Litigation Group at the law firm of Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP in Washington D.C. Since 2011, she has served as the Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Appellate and Review in the Tax Division at the United States Department of Justice.[6][7]

From June 16, 2014 to December 2014 she served as the Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Tax Division of the Department of Justice.[8][5]

United States Tax Court

On September 18, 2013, President Obama nominated Ashford to be a Judge of the United States Tax Court for a term of fifteen years, to the seat vacated by Judge Mary Ann Cohen, who took senior status on October 1, 2012.[6][7] On January 15, 2014, Ashford testified before the Senate Finance Committee "that through her past experiences she has "amassed the temperament and skills to be an independent arbiter," and that if confirmed, she would resolve tax controversies "fairly, impartially and expeditiously.""[9] On February 4, 2014, the Senate Finance Committee "approved the nominations of Tamara W. Ashford and L. Paige Marvel to serve as U.S. Tax Court judges."[10]

On November 20, 2014 the United States Senate confirmed her by voice vote. She assumed office on December 19, 2014.[5]

See also

• United States Tax Court

References

1. Kathryn Keneally (Meet the AAG)
2. Martindale-Hubbell Profile
3. David A. Hubbert (Meet the AAG)
4. Nominations of R. Gil Kerlikowske, L. Paige Marvel, and Tamara Wenda Ashford: Hearing Before the Committee on Finance, United States Senate, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, on the Nominations of R. Gil Kerlikowske, to be Commissioner, Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security; L. Paige Marvel, to be a Judge of the United States Tax Court; and Tamara Wenda Ashford, to be a Judge of the United States Tax Court, January 15, 2014
5. United States Tax Court: Judge Ashford
6. "President Obama Nominates Tamara W. Ashford to the United States Tax Court". White House, Office of the Press Secretary. September 17, 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
7. "Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate". The White House, Office of the Press Secretary. September 18, 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
8. Archived Bio
9. "TAX COURT JUDGE NOMINEE ASHFORD TESTIFIES BEFORE FINANCE COMMITTEE". Tax Notes Today (2014 TNT 11-29). January 2014.
10. Shreve, Meg (February 2014). "FINANCE COMMITTEE APPROVES ASHFORD AND MARVEL FOR TAX COURT". Tax Notes Today. 2014 TNT 25-5.

Legal offices
Preceded by Mary Cohen	Judge of the United States Tax Court 2014–present	Incumbent