Peter Hall (Federal judge)

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Peter Hall
Image of Peter Hall

Nonpartisan

Prior offices
United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit

Education

Bachelor's

University of North Carolina, 1971

Graduate

University of North Carolina, 1974

Law

Cornell Law School, 1977

Personal
Birthplace
Hartford, Conn.

Peter W. Hall was a federal judge on senior status with the United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit. He joined the court in 2004 after being nominated by President George W. Bush. Prior to his appointment, Hall was U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont.[1] Hall assumed senior status on March 4, 2021.[2] His service ended on March 11, 2021, when he died.[3]

Education

Hall graduated from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with his bachelor's degree in 1971, and with his Master's degree in 1974. He earned his J.D. from Cornell Law School in 1977.[1]

Professional career

1982-1986: First assistant U.S. attorney
1978-1982: Assistant U.S. attorney

Judicial career

2nd Circuit Court of Appeals

Nomination Tracker
Fedbadgesmall.png
Nominee Information
Name: Peter W. Hall
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit
Progress
Confirmed 198 days after nomination.
ApprovedANominated: December 9, 2003
ApprovedAABA Rating: Unanimously Well Qualified
Questionnaire:
ApprovedAHearing: March 10, 2004
Hearing Transcript: Hearing Transcript
QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
ApprovedAReported: April 1, 2004 
ApprovedAConfirmed: June 24, 2004
ApprovedAVote: Voice vote

Hall was nominated to the United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit by President George W. Bush on December 9, 2003, to a seat vacated by Fred Parker, who died in judicial service. The American Bar Association rated Hall Unanimously Well Qualified for the nomination.[4] Hearings on Hall's nomination were held before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary on March 10, 2004, and his nomination was reported by U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) on April 1, 2004. Hall was confirmed on a voice vote of the U.S. Senate on June 24, 2004, and he received his commission on July 7, 2004.[1][5]

Hall assumed senior status on March 4, 2021.[2]

Noteworthy cases

NY City smoking deterrent posters (2012)
See also: United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit (94th St. Grocery v. N.Y.C. Bd. of Health, 11-91-cv)

On July 10, 2012, the United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit affirmed the decision of Manhattan federal Judge Jed Rakoff, ruling that federal regulations preempted a city ordinance that required cigarette distributors to post gruesome photos of cigarette related illnesses at the point of sale. The court held that the 1965 Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act preempted the local law, thus rendering the local ordinance unconstitutional. Philip Morris USA alongside 2 other manufacturers, 2 major retailers and 2 trade unions challenged this city law in federal court last year. Despite admitting the risks of smoking, Rakoff agreed with the cigarette producers, stating in his opinion, "Even merchants of morbidity are entitled to the full protection of the law." The Second Circuit concurred, though they believed that the city could launch its own anti-smoking campaign using the images, but could not require retailers to do it. The case was heard by Judges Peter Hall, Gerard Lynch, and Denny Chin, with Chin writing the opinion of the court.[6][7]

Fed Reserve disclosure (2009)
See also: United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit (BLOOMBERG, LP v. BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF FED. RESERVE, 601 F. 3d 143)

Bloomberg News talking about their suit against the Fed.

On August 24, 2009, District Judge Loretta Preska ruled that the Federal Reserve must disclose the recipients of emergency loans and aid during the economic downturn.[8]

Bloomberg News took court action after the nation's central bank refused to comply with a Freedom of Information Act request. According to the network, Bloomberg News hoped that if they made public the recipients of bailout money it would deter more bailout money from being handed out.[8]

As part of her order, Preska gave the Federal Reserve five days to hand over the documents. On August 28, 2009, Judge Preska delayed her order requiring the Federal Reserve to disclose bailout recipients. Preska also allowed the Fed to file an appeal with the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.[9]

The case was subsequently argued in front of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals on January 11, 2010, and decided on March 19, 2010. The appellate court judges, Dennis Jacobs, Pierre Leval, and Peter Hall, upheld the decision reached by Judge Preska.[10]

Seinfeld case (2009)
See also: United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit (LAPINE v. Seinfeld, No. 09-4423-cv)

District Judge Laura Swain tossed out a copyright infringement lawsuit against Jessica Seinfeld on September 10, 2009, after the judge found that a recipe in a cook book did not infringe on a competing author.[11]

Missy Chase Lapine sued the wife of comedian Jerry Seinfeld claiming a chicken breast recipe infringed on her similar recipe and competed unfairly. The judge found that because the styles of the books differed there was no evidence that Seinfeld's wife committed plagiarism.[11] The judgment can be read here.

The case was appealed to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. The two appeals court judges, Reena Raggi and Peter Hall, ruled against Missy Chase Lapine and affirmed the decision by Judge Swain.[12]

In 2010, Missy Chase Lapine sued Jerry Seinfeld for slander as a result of an interview Mr. Seinfeld participated in on the David Letterman television show. The New York Supreme Court dismissed the claim as being without merit in 2011. The judgment can be read here.[13]

See also

External links


Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Federal Judicial Center, "Biographical directory of federal judges," accessed June 7, 2016
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Bloomberg Law, "Biden Can Flip Second Circuit After Judge Hall Goes Senior (1)," March 4, 2021
  3. ↑ Office of Governor Phil Scott, "Statement from Governor Phil Scott on the Passing of Judge Peter Hall," March 11, 2021
  4. ↑ American Bar Association, "Ratings of Article III judicial nominees, 108th Congress," accessed June 7, 2016
  5. ↑ United States Congress, "PN 1195 - Peter W. Hall - The Judiciary," accessed June 7, 2016
  6. ↑ MyFoxDC, "New York can't scare smokers with graphic images, court ruled," July 12, 2012
  7. ↑ Second Circuit Court of Appeals, "Ruling for 94th St. Grocery v. N.Y.C. Bd. of Health," accessed June 3, 2015
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Washington Post," Judge Rules Fed Must Disclose Firms That Accept Aid," August 26, 2009
  9. ↑ Reuters, "Judge puts Fed's bailout revelations on hold," August 28, 2009
  10. ↑ BLOOMBERG, "LP v. BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF FED. RES., 601 F. 3d 143," accessed June 3, 2015
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 The New York Times, "Judge Rejects Copyright Suit Against Jessica Seinfeld," September 10, 2009
  12. ↑ United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, "LAPINE v. Seinfeld, Court of Appeals," accessed June 3, 2015
  13. ↑ New York Supreme Court, "Lapine v. Seinfeld, 31 Misc. 3d 736," accessed June 3, 2014
Political offices
Preceded by:
Fred Parker 		Second Circuit
2004–2021
Seat #5 		Succeeded by:
Beth Robinson




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