Gerald Bard Tjoflat
Gerald Bard Tjoflat (born December 6, 1929) is an American lawyer and Senior United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.[1]
Gerald Bard Tjoflat | |
|---|---|
| Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | |
| Assumed office November 19, 2019 | |
| Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | |
| In office October 1, 1989 – September 20, 1996 | |
| Preceded by | Paul Hitch Roney |
| Succeeded by | Joseph W. Hatchett |
| Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | |
| In office October 1, 1981 – November 19, 2019 | |
| Appointed by | operation of law |
| Preceded by | Seat established by 94 Stat. 1994 |
| Succeeded by | Robert J. Luck |
| Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit | |
| In office November 21, 1975 – October 1, 1981 | |
| Appointed by | Gerald Ford |
| Preceded by | John Milton Bryan Simpson |
| Succeeded by | Seat abolished |
| Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida | |
| In office October 16, 1970 – December 12, 1975 | |
| Appointed by | Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | Seat established by 84 Stat. 294 |
| Succeeded by | Howell W. Melton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gerald Bard Tjoflat December 6, 1929 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Education | Duke University School of Law (LL.B.) |
Education and career
Tjoflat was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He served in the United States Army from 1953 to 1955, attaining the rank of corporal. Tjoflat earned his Bachelor of Laws from Duke University School of Law in 1957. He was in private practice in Jacksonville, Florida from 1957 to 1968 and served as a judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit of Florida in Jacksonville from 1968 to 1970.[2]
Federal judicial service
President Richard Nixon nominated Tjoflat to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida on October 7, 1970, to a new seat created by 84 Stat. 294. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 13, 1970, he received his commission three days later. His service terminated on December 12, 1975, due to his elevation to the Fifth Circuit.[2]
President Gerald Ford nominated Tjoflat to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on November 3, 1975, to a seat vacated by Judge John Milton Bryan Simpson. He was confirmed by the Senate on November 20, 1975, he received his commission the next day and began serving on the court on December 12, 1975. Tjoflat was reassigned by operation of law to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit on October 1, 1981, when that court was established. He served as Chief Judge from 1989 to 1996.[2] During the second week of August 2019, Tjoflat informed President Donald Trump that he will take senior status contingent upon the confirmation and appointment of his successor.[3] On November 19, 2019, his successor, Robert J. Luck, was confirmed and received his commission the same day.
Memberships and honor
In 1995, the Duke Law Journal at the Duke University School of Law published a tribute to Tjoflat that included articles by then-Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, retired Justices Lewis F. Powell, Jr. and Byron R. White, and Judge Edward R. Becker of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, among others.[4]
References
- Hall, K.; Rise, E.W. (1991). From local courts to national tribunals: the federal district courts of Florida, 1821-1990. Carlson Pub. Retrieved 2015-06-03.
- Gerald Bard Tjoflat at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
- Bill Rankin, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Trump gets another seat to fill on influential Atlanta appeals court". ajc.
- "Tribute to Gerald Bard Tjoflat - Duke Law Review". scholarship.law.duke.edu. Retrieved 2015-06-03.
Sources
- Gerald Bard Tjoflat at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Seat established by 84 Stat. 294 |
Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida 1970–1975 |
Succeeded by Howell W. Melton |
| Preceded by John Milton Bryan Simpson |
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit 1975–1981 |
Succeeded by Seat abolished |
| Preceded by Seat established by 94 Stat. 1994 |
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit 1981–2019 |
Succeeded by Robert J. Luck |
| Preceded by Paul Hitch Roney |
Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit 1989–1996 |
Succeeded by Joseph W. Hatchett |