Joel Fredrick Dubina

Joel Dubina
Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Incumbent
Assumed office
June 1, 2009
Preceded by James Edmondson
Judge of the Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Incumbent
Assumed office
October 1, 1990
Nominated by George H. W. Bush
Preceded by Robert Vance
Judge of the District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
In office
September 15, 1986 – October 1, 1990
Nominated by Ronald Reagan
Preceded by Robert Varner
Succeeded by William Albritton
Personal details
Born 1947 (age 64–65)
Elkhart, Indiana, U.S.
Alma mater University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
Samford University

Joel Fredrick Dubina (born 1947) is the Chief Judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.[1]

Biography

Dubina was born in Elkhart, Indiana. He received a B.S. from the University of Alabama in 1970, and a J.D. from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in 1973.[1]

He was a law clerk, to Robert E. Varner, of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama from 1973 to 1974. He was in private practice of law in Montgomery, Alabama from 1974 to 1983.

Dubina's daughter, Martha Roby, was elected in 2010 to the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama (AL-2) defeating incumbent congressman Bobby Bright.

Federal judicial service

Dubina was a United States magistrate judge for the Middle District of Alabama from 1983 to 1986. He was nominated by President Ronald Reagan on July 30, 1986, to Varner's seat in the Middle District of Alabama. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 12, 1986, and received commission on September 15, 1986. His service was terminated on October 5, 1990, following his elevation to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Dubina was nominated to the Eleventh Circuit by President George H.W. Bush on June 7, 1990, to a seat vacated by Robert Smith Vance. Dubina was confirmed by the Senate on September 28, 1990, and received his commission on October 1, 1990. He became Chief Judge of the Eleventh Circuit on June 1, 2009.[2]

In 2009 Dubina served as member of the three-judge panel which denied an "Application for Leave to File a Second or Successive Habeas Corpus Petition" in the Troy Davis case.[3]

Dubina was on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals panel that reviewed Roger Vinson's decision in Florida v. United States Department of Health and Human Services.[4]

References

Legal offices
Preceded by
Robert Varner
Judge of the District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
1986–1990
Succeeded by
William Albritton
Preceded by
Robert Vance
Judge of the Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
1990–present
Incumbent
Preceded by
James Edmondson
Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
2009–present