Kelly H. Rankin
2024 - Present
0
Kelly H. Rankin is a judge on the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming. On January 10, 2024, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Rankin to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 7, 2024 by voice vote.[1][2][3] To see a full list of judges appointed by Joe Biden, click here.
The United States District Court for the District of Wyoming 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.
Prior to joining the court, Rankin was a chief magistrate judge for the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming. He was first appointed to the court on June 7, 2012.[4][5]
Judicial nominations and appointments
United States District Court for the District of Wyoming (2024-present)
- See also: Federal judges nominated by Joe Biden
On January 10, 2024, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Rankin to the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming.[3] Rankin received commission on March 12, 2024.[6] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.
Nominee Information |
---|
Name: Kelly H. Rankin |
Court: United States District Court for the District of Wyoming |
Progress |
Confirmed 57 days after nomination. |
![]() |
![]() |
Questionnaire: Questionnaire |
![]() |
Hearing Transcript: Hearing Transcript |
QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Confirmation vote
The U.S. Senate confirmed Rankin on March 7, 2024, by voice vote.[1]
Senate Judiciary Committee hearing
The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on Rankin's nomination on January 24, 2024. Rankin was reported to the full Senate on February 29, 2024, after a 20-1 committee vote.[7] Click here for a list of other nominees awaiting a committee vote.
Nomination
On December 19, 2023, President Joe Biden (D) announced his intent to nominate Rankin to the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming. The president officially nominated Rankin on January 10, 2024. Click here for a list of other nominees who have been nominated by President Joe Biden.
Rankin was nominated to replace Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal, who assumed senior status on June 1, 2022.[8]
The American Bar Association (ABA) rated Rankin well qualified.[9] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.
Biography
Education
Rankin earned his B.A. from the University of Wyoming in 1990 and his J.D. from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 1994.[2]
Professional career
- 2024-present: Judge, United States District Court for the District of Wyoming
- 2012-2024: Federal magistrate judge, United States District Court for the District of Wyoming
- 2010-2012: Criminal Chief in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming
- 2010: counsel, Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal
- 2008-2010: United States Attorney for the District of Wyoming
- 2003-2008: Assistant U.S. Attorney
- 1999-2003: Park County Attorney
- 1995-1998: Deputy County Attorney in the Park County Attorney’s Office
- 1994-1995: Deputy County Attorney in the Lincoln County Attorney’s Office[2]
About the court
District of Wyoming |
---|
Tenth Circuit |
![]() |
Judgeships |
Posts: 3 |
Judges: 3 |
Vacancies: 0 |
Judges |
Chief: Scott W. Skavdahl |
Active judges: Alan Johnson, Kelly H. Rankin, Scott W. Skavdahl |
The United States District Court for the District of Wyoming is the United States district court with jurisdiction in the State of Wyoming. It is one of ninety-four federal district courts. The district operates out of courthouses in Mammoth, Casper, and Cheyenne, Wyoming.
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 jurisdiction of the District of Wyoming consists of all the counties in the state of Wyoming.
The District of Wyoming has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.
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 District of Wyoming
- United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- United States District Court for the District of Wyoming
- U.S. District Court of Wyoming, "Directory"
- Biography from the Federal Judicial Center
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Congress, "PN1294 — Kelly Harrison Rankin — The Judiciary," March 10, 2024
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 The White House, "President Biden Names Forty-Third Round of Judicial Nominees," December 19, 2023
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The White House, "Nominations Press Release Attached," January 10, 2024
- ↑ U.S. District Court of Wyoming, "Directory," accessed July 30, 2014
- ↑ The Third Branch, "Judicial Milestones," accessed July 30, 2014
- ↑ FJC, "Rankin, Kelly Harrison," March 15, 2024
- ↑ The Senate Judiciary Committee, "Results of Executive Business Meeting – February 29, 2024," February 29, 2024
- ↑ Federal Judicial Center, "Biography of Judge Nancy Dell Freudenthal," accessed January 10, 2024
- ↑ American Bar Association, "STANDING COMMITTEE ON THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY," accessed January 30, 2024
Political offices | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Nancy D. Freudenthal |
United States District Court for the District of Wyoming 2024-Present |
Succeeded by - |
Preceded by - |
United States District Court for the District of Wyoming 2016-2024 |
Succeeded by - |
| |||
---|---|---|---|
Active judges |
Chief Judge: Scott W. Skavdahl • Alan Johnson (Wyoming) • Kelly H. Rankin | ||
Senior judges | |||
Magistrate judges | R. Michael Shickich • Teresa McKee • | ||
Former Article III judges |
William Downes • John Alden Riner • Thomas Blake Kennedy • Ewing Kerr • | ||
Former Chief judges |
Clarence Brimmer • William Downes • Alan Johnson (Wyoming) • |
Federal courts:
Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Wyoming • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Wyoming
State courts:
Wyoming Supreme Court • Wyoming District Courts • Wyoming Circuit Courts
State resources:
Courts in Wyoming • Wyoming judicial elections • Judicial selection in Wyoming