Benjamin Beaton
2020 - Present
3
Benjamin J. Beaton is a judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. He was nominated by President Donald Trump (R) on September 8, 2020, and confirmed by a 52-44 vote of the U.S. Senate on November 17, 2020. He received his judicial commission on December 1, 2020. To see a full list of judges appointed by Donald Trump, click here.
The United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky is one of 94 U.S. District Courts. They are the general trial courts of the United States federal courts. To learn more about the court, click here.
Beaton was a partner at Squire Patton Boggs LLP from 2018 to 2020. From 2011 to 2012, he was a law clerk to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court of the United States.
Judicial nominations and appointments
United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
- See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump
On September 8, 2020, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Beaton to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. He was confirmed by a 52-44 vote of the U.S. Senate on November 17, 2020. He received commission on December 1, 2020.[1] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.
 |
| Nominee Information |
| Name: Benjamin Beaton |
| Court: United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky |
| Progress |
| Confirmed 70 days after nomination. |
 Nominated: September 8, 2020
|
| ABA Rating: Majority well qualified/Minority qualified
|
| Questionnaire: Questionnaire |
| Hearing: September 9, 2020
|
| QFRs: QFRs (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
| Reported: October 22, 2020
|
| Confirmed: November 17, 2020
|
| Vote: 52-44
|
Confirmation vote
The U.S. Senate confirmed Beaton by a vote of 52-44 on November 17, 2020.[1] To see a full breakdown of the vote on the official U.S. Senate website, click here.
| Beaton confirmation vote (November 12, 2020) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Yea | Nay | No vote | ||||||
 Democratic |
2 | 42 | 1 | ||||||
 Republican |
50 | 0 | 3 | ||||||
 Independent |
0 | 2 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | 52 | 44 | 4 | ||||||
Change in Senate rules
Beaton was confirmed to a U.S. District Court under a new precedent the Senate established.
On April 3, 2019, the U.S. Senate voted 51-48 in favor of a change to chamber precedent lowering the maximum time allowed for debate on executive nominees to posts below the Cabinet level and on nominees to district court judgeships from 30 hours after invoking cloture to two.[2]
The change was passed under a procedure, often referred to as the nuclear option, that requires 51 votes rather than 60.[3]
It was the third use of the nuclear option in Senate history. In 2013, it was used to eliminate the 60-vote threshold to confirm presidential nominees, except those to the Supreme Court. In 2017, it was used to eliminate the 60-vote threshold required to confirm Supreme Court nominees.[4] For more, see Filibuster and reconciliation in the United States Congress.
Senate Judiciary Committee hearing
Beaton had his hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 9, 2020.[5] Beaton's nomination was reported to the full Senate on October 22, 2020, after a 12-0 committee vote. No Democratic committee members were present to advance his nomination.[6]
Nomination
On August 12, 2020, President Donald Trump (R) announced his intent to nominate Beaton to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.[7] The president officially submitted the nomination on September 8.[1]
Beaton was nominated to replace Judge Justin Walker, who was elevated to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on June 18, 2020.
Beaton received the support of U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R). Click here to read McConnell's statement on Beaton's nomination.
The American Bar Association rated Beaton well qualified by a majority and qualified by a minority for the position.[8] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.
Early life and education
Beaton was born in Paducah, Kentucky, in 1981.[9] He graduated in 1999 from Paducah Tilghman High School. He earned his B.A., summa cum laude, in government from Centre College in 2003. Beaton obtained his J.D. from Columbia Law School in 2009. During his legal studies, he served as an articles editor on the Columbia Law Review.[7][10]
Professional career
- 2020-present: Judge, United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
- 2018-2020: Partner, Squire Patton Boggs LLP
- 2012-2018: Associate, Sidley Austin, LLP
- 2011-2012: Law clerk to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Supreme Court of the United States
- 2010-2011: Associate, Sidley Austin, LLP
- 2010: Legal fellow, International Justice Mission in Kampala, Uganda
- 2009-2010: Law clerk to Judge A. Raymond Randolph, United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit[7][10]
Awards and associations
Awards
- 2018: International Municipal Lawyers Association Amicus Service Award
- 2017: Centre College Distinguished Young Alumnus Award
- 2016-2017: Sidley Austin Vincent F. Prada Pro Bono Award
- 2012: American Inns of Court Temple Bar Scholar (2012)
- D.C. Bar Pro Bono Honor Roll
- 2016, 2017: High Honor Roll
- 2014, 2018: Honor Roll[9]
Associations
- 2019-present, 2014-2017: American Inns of Court
- 2019-present: Louis D. Brandeis Inn of Court, Louisville, Kentucky
- 2019-present, 2006-2009: The Federalist Society
- 2019-present: Programming coordinator, Northern Kentucky Lawyers chapter
- 2006-2009: Columbia Law School chapter
- 2017-present: Board of trustees, Centre College
- 2020-present: Governance committee
- 2019-present: Vice chair, Finance committee
- 2017-2019: Academic affairs committee
- 2017-2019: Planning committee
- 2018-2020: Federal Bar Association
- 2017-2019: Co-founder, Kentucky Business Council
- 2014-2017: Edward Coke Appellate Inn of Court, Washington, D.C.
- 2014-2017: Centre College President's Advisory Council
- 2011-2018: American Bar Association[9]
About the court
| Western District of Kentucky |
|---|
| Sixth Circuit |
|
| Judgeships |
| Posts: 5 |
| Judges: 5 |
| Vacancies: 0 |
| Judges |
| Chief: Greg N. Stivers |
| Active judges: Benjamin Joel Beaton, Claria Horn Boom, David J. Hale, Rebecca Grady Jennings, Greg N. Stivers Senior judges: |
The United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky is one of 94 United States district courts. When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit based in downtown Cincinnati at the Potter A. Stewart Federal Courthouse and Building.
The Western District of Kentucky has five authorized judicial posts. The chief judge of the court is Greg N. Stivers, who was appointed by President Barack Obama (D). Three of the judges on the court were appointed by Donald Trump (R).
The Western District of Kentucky has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.
There are four court divisions, each covering the following counties:
The Bowling Green Division, covering Adair, Allen, Barren, Butler, Casey, Clinton, Cumberland, Edmonson, Green, Hart, Logan, Metcalfe, Monroe, Russell, Simpson, Taylor, Todd, and Warren counties.
The Louisville Division, covering Breckinridge, Bullitt, Hardin, Jefferson, Larue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, Oldham, Spencer, and Washington counties.
The Owensboro Division, covering Daviess, Grayson, Hancock, Henderson, Hopkins, McLean, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Union, and Webster counties.
The Paducah Division, covering Ballard, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Livingston, Lyon, McCracken, Marshall, and Trigg counties.
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
- United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
- United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Biography from the Federal Judicial Center
- Biography from Squire Patton Boggs LLP
- LinkedIn profile
- United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
- United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Congress.gov, "PN2205 — Benjamin Joel Beaton — The Judiciary," accessed September 8, 2020
- ↑ The Hill, "GOP triggers 'nuclear option' to speed up Trump picks," April 3, 2019
- ↑ Axios, "Senate GOP invokes 'nuclear option' to speed up confirmations of Trump nominees," April 3, 2019
- ↑ NBC News, "McConnell to use 'nuclear option' to confirm lower-level nominees," April 2, 2019
- ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee, "Nominations," September 9, 2020
- ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee, "Results of Executive Business Meeting," October 22, 2020
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 WhiteHouse.gov, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Judicial Nominees," August 12, 2020
- ↑ American Bar Association, "Ratings of Article III and Article IV judicial nominees," accessed September 9, 2020
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Senate Judiciary Committee, "Questionnaire for judicial nominees," accessed October 22, 2020
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 LinkedIn, "Benjamin Beaton," accessed August 13, 2020
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky 2020-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 |
Thomas Parker • Elizabeth Branch • Neil Gorsuch • Amul Thapar • David C. Nye • John K. Bush • Kevin Newsom • Timothy J. Kelly • Ralph Erickson • Scott Palk • Trevor McFadden • Joan Larsen • Amy Coney Barrett • Allison Eid • Stephanos Bibas • Donald Coggins Jr. • Dabney Friedrich • Greg Katsas • Steven Grasz • Don Willett • James Ho • William L. Campbell Jr. • David Stras • Tilman E. Self III • Karen Gren Scholer • Terry A. Doughty • Claria Horn Boom • John Broomes • Rebecca Grady Jennings • Kyle Duncan • Kurt Engelhardt • Michael B. Brennan • Joel Carson • Robert Wier • Fernando Rodriguez Jr. • Annemarie Carney Axon • | ||
| 2018 |
Andrew Oldham • Amy St. Eve • Michael Scudder • John Nalbandian • Mark Bennett • Andrew Oldham • Britt Grant • Colm Connolly • Maryellen Noreika • Jill Otake • Jeffrey Beaverstock • Emily Coody Marks • Holly Lou Teeter • Julius Richardson • Charles B. Goodwin • Barry Ashe • Stan Baker • A. Marvin Quattlebaum Jr. • Terry F. Moorer • Susan Baxter • William Jung • Alan Albright • Dominic Lanza • Eric Tostrud • Charles Williams • Nancy E. Brasel • James Sweeney • Kari A. Dooley • Marilyn J. Horan • Robert Summerhays • Brett Kavanaugh • David Porter • Liles Burke • Michael Juneau • Peter Phipps • Lance Walker • Richard Sullivan • Eli Richardson • Ryan Nelson • Chad F. Kenney, Sr. • Susan Brnovich • William M. Ray, II • Jeremy Kernodle • Thomas Kleeh • J.P. Hanlon • Mark Norris • Jonathan Kobes • Michael Brown • David Counts | ||
| 2019 |
Eric Miller • Chad Readler • Eric Murphy • Neomi Rao • Paul Matey • Allison Jones Rushing • Bridget S. Bade • Roy Altman • Patrick Wyrick • Holly Brady • David Morales • Andrew Brasher • J. Campbell Barker • Rodolfo Ruiz • Daniel Domenico • Michael Truncale • Michael Park • Joseph Bianco • Raúl Arias-Marxuach • Daniel Collins • Joshua Wolson • Wendy Vitter • Kenneth Kiyul Lee • Kenneth Bell • Stephen Clark • Howard Nielson • Rodney Smith • Jean-Paul Boulee • Sarah Daggett Morrison • Rossie Alston • Pamela A. Barker • Corey Maze • Greg Guidry • Matthew Kacsmaryk • Allen Winsor • Carl Nichols • James Cain, Jr. • Tom Barber • J. Nicholas Ranjan • Clifton L. Corker • Peter Phipps • Daniel Bress • Damon Leichty • Wendy W. Berger • Peter Welte • Michael Liburdi • William Shaw Stickman • Mark Pittman • Karin J. Immergut • Jason Pulliam • Brantley Starr • Brian Buescher • James Wesley Hendrix • Timothy Reif • Martha Pacold • Sean Jordan • Mary Rowland • John M. Younge • Jeff Brown • Ada Brown • Steven Grimberg • Stephanie A. Gallagher • Steven Seeger • Stephanie Haines • Mary McElroy • David J. Novak • Frank W. Volk • Charles Eskridge • Rachel Kovner • Justin Walker • T. Kent Wetherell • Danielle Hunsaker • Lee Rudofsky • Jennifer Philpott Wilson • William Nardini • Steven Menashi • Robert J. Luck • Eric Komitee • Douglas Cole • John Sinatra • Sarah Pitlyk • Barbara Lagoa • Richard Myers II • Sherri Lydon • Patrick Bumatay • R. Austin Huffaker • Miller Baker • Anuraag Singhal • Karen Marston • Jodi Dishman • Mary Kay Vyskocil • Matthew McFarland • John Gallagher • Bernard Jones • Kea Riggs • Robert J. Colville • Stephanie Dawkins Davis • Gary R. Brown • David Barlow • Lewis Liman | ||
| 2020 |
Lawrence VanDyke • Daniel Traynor • John Kness • Joshua Kindred • Philip Halpern • Silvia Carreno-Coll • Scott Rash • John Heil • Anna Manasco • John L. Badalamenti • Drew Tipton • Andrew Brasher • Cory Wilson • Scott Hardy • David Joseph • Matthew Schelp • John Cronan • Justin Walker • Brett H. Ludwig • Christy Wiegand • Thomas Cullen • Diane Gujarati • Stanley Blumenfeld • Mark Scarsi • John Holcomb • Stephen P. McGlynn • Todd Robinson • Hala Jarbou • David Dugan • Iain D. Johnston • Franklin U. Valderrama • John Hinderaker • Roderick Young • Michael Newman • Aileen Cannon • James Knepp • Kathryn Kimball Mizelle • Benjamin Beaton • Kristi Johnson • Toby Crouse • Philip Calabrese • Taylor McNeel • Thomas Kirsch • Stephen Vaden • Katherine Crytzer • Fernando Aenlle-Rocha • Charles Atchley • Joseph Dawson | ||
