Waverly D. Crenshaw Jr.
Waverly David Crenshaw Jr. (born December 17, 1956) is the Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee.
Waverly D. Crenshaw Jr. | |
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Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee | |
Assumed office April 15, 2017 | |
Preceded by | Kevin H. Sharp |
Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee | |
Assumed office April 12, 2016 | |
Appointed by | Barack Obama |
Preceded by | William Joseph Haynes Jr. |
Personal details | |
Born | Nashville, Tennessee | December 17, 1956
Education | Vanderbilt University (B.A.) Vanderbilt University Law School (J.D.) |
Biography
Crenshaw was born on December 17, 1956 in Nashville, Tennessee.[1] Crenshaw received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1978 from Vanderbilt University. He received a Juris Doctor in 1981 from Vanderbilt University Law School. From 1981 to 1982, he served as a law clerk to the Judges of the Chancery and Probate Court of Davidson County, Tennessee. From 1982 to 1984, he served as a law clerk to Judge John Trice Nixon of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. He served as Assistant Attorney General of the State of Tennessee from 1984 to 1987. From 1987 to 1990, he was an associate at the law firm of Passino, Delaney & Hildebrand. He joined the law firm of Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP in 1990 as an associate, becoming partner in 1994; becoming the first African-American attorney and partner at the firm. He specializes in labor and employment law.[2][3][4][5]
Federal judicial service
On February 4, 2015, President Obama nominated Crenshaw to serve as a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, to the seat vacated by Judge William Joseph Haynes Jr., who took senior status on December 1, 2014.[6][3] He received a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on June 10, 2015.[7] On July 9, 2015 his nomination was reported out of committee by voice vote.[8] The Senate confirmed his nomination on April 11, 2016, by a vote of 92 to 0.[9] He received his commission on April 12, 2016.[5] At the time of his confirmation, Crenshaw was only the second African-American federal judge on active status in Tennessee.[10] He became Chief Judge on April 15, 2017 after the resignation of Kevin H. Sharp.[5]
Personal life
Crenshaw was the first African American to become a member of the Belle Meade Country Club, a private golf club in Belle Meade, Tennessee, in 2012.[11]
References
- "Attorney Waverly D Crenshaw Jr – Lawyer in Nashville TN". www.lawyercentral.com.
- "President Obama Nominates Two to Serve on the United States District Courts". 4 February 2015.
- "Nashville's Waverly Crenshaw Jr. nominated to federal judgeship".
- "Official Biography at Waller, Lansden, Dortch & Davis, LLP".
- "Crenshaw, Waverly David, Jr. – Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.
- "Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate". 4 February 2015.
- "United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary". www.judiciary.senate.gov.
- "Results of Executive Business Meeting – July 9, 2015" (PDF).
- "U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 114th Congress – 2nd Session". www.senate.gov.
- Troyan, Mary (April 11, 2016). "Senate confirms Waverly Crenshaw for federal judgeship". The Tennessean. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
- Meador, Jonathan (November 5, 2012). "Belle Meade Country Club Admits First Black Resident Member". Nashville Scene. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
Sources
- Waverly D. Crenshaw Jr. at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
- Waverly D. Crenshaw Jr. at Ballotpedia
Legal offices | ||
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Preceded by William Joseph Haynes Jr. |
Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee 2016–present |
Incumbent |
Preceded by Kevin H. Sharp |
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee 2017–present |