Michael Scudder

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Michael Scudder
Image of Michael Scudder
United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit
Tenure

2018 - Present

Years in position

6

Education

Bachelor's

Saint Joseph's College, 1993

Law

Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, 1998

Personal
Birthplace
Fort Wayne, Ind.


Michael Y. Scudder, Jr. is a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit. He was nominated to the court by President Donald Trump (R) on February 15, 2018, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 14, 2018, by a vote of 90-0.[1][2][3] To see a full list of judges appointed by Donald Trump, click here.

The United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit is one of 13 U.S. courts of appeal. They are the intermediate appellate courts of the United States federal courts. To learn more about the 7th Circuit Court, click here.

At the time of his nomination, Scudder was a partner with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in Chicago, IL.[3]

Judicial nominations and appointments

United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit

See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump

Scudder was nominated to the United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit by President Donald Trump (R) on February 15, 2018. The U.S. Senate confirmed Scudder on May 14, 2018, by a vote of 90-0.[1] He received commission on May 21, 2018.[2] To read more about the federal nomination process, click here.

Nomination Tracker
Fedbadgesmall.png
Nominee Information
Name: Michael Scudder
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit
Progress
Confirmed 88 days after nomination.
ApprovedANominated: February 15, 2018
ApprovedAABA Rating: Unanimously Well Qualified
Questionnaire:
ApprovedAHearing: March 21, 2018
QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
ApprovedAReported: April 19, 2018 
ApprovedAConfirmed: May 14, 2018
ApprovedAVote: 90 - 0


Confirmation vote

The U.S. Senate confirmed Scudder on May 14, 2018, on a vote of 90-0.[1] To see a full breakdown of the vote on the official U.S. Senate website, here.

Michael Scudder confirmation vote (May 14, 2018)
Party Yea Nay No vote
Electiondot.png Democratic 44 0 3
Ends.png Republican 44 0 7
Grey.png Independent 2 0 0
Total 90 0 10

Senate Judiciary Committee hearing

Scudder had his hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 21, 2018. The committee voted to advance Scudder's nomination to the full Senate on April 19, 2018.[1]

Nomination

Scudder was nominated to replace Judge Richard Posner, who retired from judicial service on September 2, 2017.

The American Bar Association unanimously rated Scudder well qualified for the position.[4] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.

Education

Scudder received his Bachelor of Business Administration from Saint Joseph’s College and his J.D. from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law.[3]

Professional career

About the court

Seventh Circuit
Court of Appeals
US-CourtOfAppeals-7thCircuit-Seal.png
Judgeships
Posts: 11
Judges: 11
Vacancies: 0
Judges
Chief: Diane Sykes
Active judges: Michael B. Brennan, Frank Easterbrook, Candace Jackson-Akiwumi, Thomas L. Kirsch II, Joshua Kolar, John Z. Lee, Nancy Maldonado, Doris Pryor, Michael Scudder, Amy St. Eve, Diane Sykes

Senior judges:
William Bauer, David Hamilton, Daniel Manion, Kenneth Ripple, Ilana Rovner, Diane Wood


The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit is a federal appellate court with appellate jurisdiction. It hears appeals from all of the circuit courts within its jurisdiction and its rulings may be appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States.

Appeals are heard in the Everett M. Dirksen Federal Building in downtown Chicago.

Three judges of the Seventh Circuit went on to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States. Sherman Minton was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1949 by Harry Truman (D), John Paul Stevens was appointed in 1975 by Gerald Ford (R), and Amy Coney Barrett was appointed in 2020 by Donald Trump (R).

United States Court of Appeals for the 7th CircuitUnited States District Court for the Western District of WisconsinUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of WisconsinUnited States District Court for the Northern District of IllinoisUnited States District Court for the Central District of IllinoisUnited States District Court for the Southern District of IllinoisUnited States District Court for the Northern District of IndianaUnited States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
Map of the Seventh Circuit. Click on a district to find out more about it.


The 7th Circuit has appellate jurisdiction over cases heard in one of its subsidiary districts. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law. Appeals of rulings by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals are petitioned to the Supreme Court of the United States. Justice Brett Kavanaugh is the circuit justice for the 7th Circuit.

The United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit has appellate jurisdiction over the courts in the following districts:

To read opinions published by this court, click here.

The federal nomination process

Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:

  • The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
  • The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
  • The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.
  • As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.
  • After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.
  • If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
  • If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.
  • The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.
  • If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
  • If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.


See also

External links


Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by
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United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit
2018-Present
Succeeded by
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