Dennis M. Cavanaugh

United States District Judge Dennis Michael Cavanaugh sits in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.^[1]

Background

Cavanaugh was born on January 28, 1947 in Orange, New Jersey. He was raised as an Irish Catholic.^[2] Cavanaugh's federal judicial service includes a judgeship in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.^[2] He was nominated by former President William J. Clinton on May 3, 2000, to a seat vacated by Judge Alfred M. Wolin.^[2] Cavanaugh was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 21, 2000 and received commission on September 20, 2000. Cavanaugh was formerly a United States magistrate judge for the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (1993-2000).^[2] Cavanaugh was educated at Morehead State University (B.A., 1969) and Seton Hall University School of Law (J.D., 1972).^[2] Cavanaugh remains very loyal to his law school alma mater and he teaches there as a member of the law school's adjunct faculty.^[2]

Cavanaugh began his legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Francis W. Hayden in the New Jersey Superior Court (1972-73).^[2] He was then an Assistant Deputy Public Defender for the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender (1973-77) before entering private practice in various law firms in New Jersey (1977-92).^[2] Cavanaugh's private practice includes his partnership at the law firms of McCormack Petrolle & Matthews (1992), Whipple Ross & Hirsh (1987-92) and Tompkins McGuire & Wachenfeld (1984-87). He also served as a partner (1980-84) and associate (1977-80) at Lum Biunno & Tompkins. ^[3] Cavanaugh was the Borough Prosecutor for the Borough of Caldwell, New Jersey (1988-89).^[2] Then, in 1993, Cavanaugh was installed as a United States Magistrate Judge in the District of New Jersey, a position that he held until 2000, when he was elevated to District Judge.

Judicial Philosophy

Cavanaugh is commonly known for his practicality on the bench. ^[4] As a Magistrate Judge, Cavanaugh developed a reputation for quickly settling cases. While he is less scholarly than his peers, Cavanaugh is efficient and moves through cases for a swift adjudication of cases. ^[4] Cavanaugh is also known for writing very concise opinions. He is more concerned with the swift adjudication of justice than with drafting law review type opinions.

References

1. ^ Judges of United States
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i} Judges Of The United States
3. ^ LexisNexis Research System Home Page
4. ^ ^{a b} The Robing Room

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Name	Cavanaugh, Dennis M.
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Date of birth	1947
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