Thomas B. Griffith

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Thomas Beall Griffith (born July 5, 1954 in Yokohama, Japan) is a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. A 1985 graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law, Griffith left private practice in 1995 to serve as Senate Legal Counsel, the chief legal officer of the United States Senate, where he gave legal advice to both parties during President Clinton's impeachment trial. In 2000, Griffith became Assistant to the President and General Counsel of Brigham Young University (BYU), his undergraduate alma mater.

President George W. Bush first nominated Griffith to the D.C. Circuit on May 10, 2004 to fill a seat vacated by retired Judge Patricia M. Wald. His nomination replaced that of Miguel Estrada, who withdrew his nomination after Democrats filibustered him for over two years. The Senate failed to act on Griffith's nomination, however, and Bush resubmitted the nomination on February 14, 2005. On June 14, 2005, the Senate confirmed Griffith by a vote of 73-24[1]. He received his commission on June 29, 2005.

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[edit] Religion

Griffith is a Latter-day Saint. While general counsel for BYU he served as president of the BYU 9th Stake. He served in this position from 2001-2005.[2]

[edit] Family

Griffith is married to Susan Ann Stell. he has 6 children. Chelsea (married to Eric Watts with son Sawyer), Megan (married to Ryan Clegg with daughter Caroline), Robbie, Erin, Tori, and Tanne.

He lives at home in Provo, Utah with Tori and Tanne.

[edit] Bar membership controversies

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Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2007)

In 1998, Griffith's membership in the District of Columbia bar lapsed for failure to pay dues as a result of what he called a clerical oversight[citation needed]. As a result of this lapse, Griffith practiced law in the District between 1998 and 2000 while technically being unlicensed to do so. Griffith was reportedly unaware of the problem at the time and as soon as he learned of it in 2001, he took immediate action to pay the dues and was reinstated[citation needed].

Griffith also practiced law for four years in Utah without a state license,[3] failing to seek membership in the Utah bar upon assuming his duties at Brigham Young University. Griffith's defenders point out that it has been the longstanding position of the Utah bar and its then executive director—a position explained by letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee by five past presidents of the Utah bar—that in-house counsel in Utah need not be licensed there provided they are closely associated with local counsel, a practice Griffith carefully followed during his tenure at the University.

Despite the controversies, Griffith's nomination received overwhelming support in the Senate to be confirmed.

[edit] References

  1. ^ On the Nomination (Confirmation Thomas B. Griffith, of Utah, to be U.S. Circuit Judge ) - US Senate role call vote 6/14/05
  2. ^ LDS Church News, March 24th, 2001
  3. ^ "Judicial Nominee Practiced Law Without License in Utah" - Carol D. Leonnig, The Washington Post, Monday, June 21, 2004, page A01

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Patricia M. Wald		 Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
2005-present		 Succeeded by
incumbent