John Broomes
2018 - Present
6
John W. Broomes is a judge on the United States District Court for the District of Kansas. He was nominated to the court by President Donald Trump (R) on September 7, 2017, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on April 12, 2018, by a voice vote.[1][2] To see a full list of judges appointed by Donald Trump, click here.
The United States District Court for the District of Kansas 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.
At the time of his nomination, Broomes was an owner and member of Hinkle Law Firm LLC.[2]
Judicial nominations and appointments
United States District Court for the District of Kansas
- See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump
Broomes was nominated to the United States District Court for the District of Kansas by President Donald Trump (R) on September 7, 2017. The U.S. Senate confirmed Broomes on April 12, 2018, by a voice vote.[1] He received commission on April 16, 2018.[3] To read more about the federal nomination process, click here.
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| Nominee Information |
| Name: John W. Broomes |
| Court: United States District Court for the District of Kansas |
| Progress |
| Confirmed 217 days after nomination. |
 Nominated: September 7, 2017
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| ABA Rating: Unanimously Qualified
|
| Questionnaire: Questionnaire |
| Hearing: November 15, 2017
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| QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
| Reported: December 7, 2017
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| Confirmed: April 12, 2018
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Confirmation vote
The U.S. Senate confirmed Broomes on April 12, 2018, by voice vote.[1]
Senate Judiciary Committee hearing
Broomes had his hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on November 15, 2017. The committee voted to advance Broomes' nomination to the full Senate on December 7, 2017.[1]
Nomination
Broomes was nominated to replace Judge John Marten, who assumed senior status on May 1, 2017.
The American Bar Association unanimously rated Broomes qualified for the position.[4] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.
Education
Broomes earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1991 with high honors. He earned his J.D. from Washburn University School of Law in 2002. Broomes earned a certification in natural resources law at Washburn and was the valedictorian of his law school class.[2][5][6]
Military service
Prior to law school, Broomes served on active duty in the United States Navy as a submarine officer from 1991 to 1996.[2][5]
Professional career
- 2018-present: Judge, United States District Court for the District of Kansas
- 2007-2018: Private practice, Hinkle Law Firm LLC, Wichita, Kan
- 2003-2006: Law clerk, Hons. Monti Belot and Donald Bostwick, District of Kansas
- 1997-2000: Project manager, Koch Industries[2][5]
- 1996-1999: Lieutenant, US Naval Reserve
- 1991-1996: Lieutenant, Submarine Officer, US Navy
About the court
| District of Kansas |
|---|
| Tenth Circuit |
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| Judgeships |
| Posts: 6 |
| Judges: 5 |
| Vacancies: 1 |
| Judges |
| Chief: Eric Melgren |
| Active judges: John Broomes, Daniel D. Crabtree, Toby Crouse, Eric Melgren, Holly Lou Teeter Senior judges: |
The United States District Court for the District of Kansas is one of 94 United States district courts. The district operates out of courthouses in Kansas City, Topeka, and Wichita.[7] When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit based in downtown Denver, Colorado, at the Byron White Federal Courthouse.
The District of Kansas has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.
The court's headquarters are in Wichita, with courthouses in Kansas City and Topeka.
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.
Noteworthy cases
On April 18, 2020, Broomes issued a ruling that blocked a gubernatorial executive order limiting in-person religious gatherings to ten or fewer people.[8]
On April 7, Gov. Laura Kelly issued Executive Order #20-18, which replaced Executive Order #20-14 and applied the statewide ten-person limit to religious assembly and funerals. Under Executive Order #20-14, religious organizations and non-religious funerals had been exempt from the restrictions on in-person gatherings.[9] On April 16, two Kansas churches filed a lawsuit in response, claiming that the order's exceptions for businesses deemed essential meant the governor was singling out churches and other religious institutions.[10]
Broomes ruled in favor of the churches, preventing the full enforcement of the executive order for the two churches. In the ruling, Broomes wrote that “Churches and religious activities appear to have been singled out among essential functions for stricter treatment.” He indicated that while the churches did not have to abide by the ten-person limit on gatherings, they were still to take other social distancing measures detailed in the executive order. Broomes' decision applied only to the two churches, not to religious institutions statewide, and remained in effect until May 2, 2020.[10] In response, Gov. Kelly issued a statement calling Broomes' ruling "preliminary," and saying that the state government "will continue to be proactive and err on the side of caution where Kansans’ health and safety is at stake.”[11]
See also
- United States District Court for the District of Kansas
- United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 United States Congress, "PN 988 — John W. Broomes — The Judiciary," accessed April 18, 2020
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 The White House, "President Donald J. Trump announces seventh wave of judicial candidates," September 7, 2017
- ↑ Federal Judicial Center, Broomes, John Wesley, accessed April 18, 2020
- ↑ American Bar Association, "Ratings of Article III and Article IV judicial nominees," accessed April 18, 2020
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Linkedin, "Profile of John Broomes," accessed September 9, 2017
- ↑ Hinkle Law Firm LLC, "John W. Broomes," accessed September 9, 2017
- ↑ U.S. District Court, District of Kansas, "Home page," accessed July 16, 2019
- ↑ The Hill, "Judge rules Kansas can't limit religious gatherings," April 19, 2020
- ↑ Kansas Office of the Governor, "Governor Kelly announces revised mass gatherings guidance to include religious services," April 7, 2020
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 The Associated Press, "Judge doubts Kansas COVID-19 rule, blocks it for 2 churches," April 19, 2020
- ↑ The Hill, "Judge rules Kansas can't limit religious gatherings," April 19, 2020
