Thomas B. Griffith

Thomas Beall Griffith (born July 5, 1954) is a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Background

Griffith was born in Yokohama, Japan. A 1985 graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law, Griffith left private practice in 1995 to serve as Senate Legal Counsel, the chief legal officer of the United States Senate, where he gave legal advice to both parties during President Clinton's impeachment trial. In 2000, Griffith became Assistant to the President and General Counsel of Brigham Young University (BYU), his undergraduate alma mater.

D.C. Circuit nomination and confirmation

President George W. Bush first nominated Griffith to the D.C. Circuit on May 10, 2004 to fill a seat vacated by retired Judge Patricia M. Wald. His nomination replaced that of Miguel Estrada, who withdrew his nomination after Democrats filibustered him for over two years.

In the summer of 2004, a controversy erupted over Griffith's nomination. In 1998, Griffith's membership in the District of Columbia bar lapsed for failure to pay dues as a result of what he called a clerical oversight. As a result of this lapse, Griffith practiced law in the District between 1998 and 2000 while technically being unlicensed to do so. Griffith was reportedly unaware of the problem at the time and as soon as he learned of it in 2001, he took immediate action to pay the dues and was reinstated [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13945-2004Jun3.html Appeals Court Nominee Let His Bar Dues Lapse (washingtonpost.com) ] ] .

Griffith also practiced law for four years in Utah without a state license, [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A56413-2004Jun20.html "Judicial Nominee Practiced Law Without License in Utah"] - Carol D. Leonnig, The Washington Post, Monday, June 21, 2004, page A01] failing to seek membership in the Utah bar upon assuming his duties at Brigham Young University. Griffith's defenders point out that it has been the longstanding position of the Utah bar and its then executive director—a position explained by letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee by five past presidents of the Utah bar—that in-house counsel in Utah need not be licensed there provided they are closely associated with local counsel, a practice Griffith carefully followed during his tenure at the University.

The Senate failed to act on Griffith's nomination in 2004, and it lapsed. Bush resubmitted the nomination on February 14, 2005.

Despite the law license controversy, Griffith's nomination received enough support in the Senate in 2005 to be confirmed. On June 14, 2005, the Senate confirmed Griffith by a vote of 73-24 [ [http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00136 "On the Nomination (Confirmation Thomas B. Griffith, of Utah, to be U.S. Circuit Judge )"] - US Senate roll call vote 2005-06-14] . He received his commission on June 29, 2005. Griffith was the third judge nominated to the D.C. Circuit by Bush and confirmed by the Senate.

Personal

Griffith is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While general counsel for BYU he served as president of the BYU 9th Stake. He served in this position from 2001-2005. ["LDS Church News", March 24th, 2001]

Griffith is married to Susan Ann Stell.he has 6 children. Chelsea (married to Eric Watts with son Sawyer), Megan (married to Ryan Clegg with daughters Caroline and Mary Grace), Robbie, Erin, Tori, and Tanne.

Notable opinions

On Monday June 23 2008 it was announced that a three judge panel of the Federal court of appeal, made up of David B. Sentelle, Merrick B. Garland and Thomas B. Griffith, overturned the determination of Hufaiza Parhat's Combatant Status Review Tribunal on Friday June 20 2008.cite news
url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/24/washington/24combatant.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
title=Court Voids Finding on Guantánamo Detainee
publisher=New York Times
author=William Glaberson
date=2008-06-24
accessdate=2008-06-24
quote=] Parhat's was the first case to ruled on since the Supreme Court's ruling in Boumediene v. Bush.However, the ruling was made under a section of the Detainee Treatment Act.

References

###@@@KEY@@@###succession box| title=Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit| before=Patricia M. Wald | after=incumbent | years=2005-present|

External links

* [http://air.fjc.gov/servlet/tGetInfo?jid=3090 Federal Judicial Center Profile]
* [http://www.cadc.uscourts.gov/internet/internet.nsf/Content/VL+-+Publications+-+Judge+Griffith+Investiture Video of Judge Griffith's investiture]