Amy Berman Jackson

Amy Berman Jackson
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia
Incumbent
Assumed office
March 18, 2011
Appointed by Barack Obama
Preceded by Gladys Kessler
Personal details
Born Amy Sauber Berman
July 22, 1954
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Spouse(s) Darryl Jackson
Alma mater Harvard University

Amy Berman Jackson (born Amy Sauber Berman, July 22, 1954) is a District Judge on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

Early life and education

Jackson received her A.B., cum laude from Harvard College in 1976 and her J.D., cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1979.[1] Berman Jackson is Jewish, the daughter of Dr. Barnett Berman and Mildred Sauber Berman.

Professional career

After graduating from law school, Jackson served as a law clerk to the Honorable Harrison L. Winter of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. From 1980 to 1986, Jackson served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia where she received Department of Justice Special Achievement Awards for her work on high profile murder and sexual assault cases in 1985 and 1986. Between 1986 to 1994, Jackson was an associate and then a partner at Venable, Baetjer, Howard, and Civiletti.[2] Starting in the year 2000 and continuing until her appointment as a federal judge, Jackson was a Member of Trout Cacheris, PLLC, in Washington, D.C. She specialized in complex litigation, criminal investigations and defense, criminal trials, civil trials, and appeals. Jackson represented nine term Representative for Louisiana's 2nd congressional district, William J. Jefferson in his corruption trial in 2009.

Jackson has served as an expert legal commentator for many news organizations such as, Fox News Channel, CNN, NBC, and MSNBC.[3]

Federal judicial nomination

On June 17, 2010, President Obama nominated Jackson to fill a vacant seat on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia that was created by the transition to senior status in 2007 by Judge Gladys Kessler.[4][5] Her nomination lapsed at the end of 2010, but Obama renominated her on January 5, 2011. The United States Senate confirmed Jackson in a 97-0 vote on March 17, 2011.[6] She received her commission on March 18, 2011.[7]

Federal judicial career

On March 2, 2012, Berman Jackson ruled that the National Labor Relations Board had limited authority to require private businesses to display posters informing workers about labor rights.[8]

On March 23, 2012, Berman Jackson overturned a decision by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that revoked a permit for the Spruce 1 mine project in Logan County, West Virginia, on the grounds that the EPA did not have power under the Clean Water Act to rescind the permit.[9] That ruling was overturned by the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in April 2013,[10] and on September 30, 2014, Berman Jackson ruled in the EPA's favor, allowing its veto of the permit to stand.[11]

Berman Jackson will preside at the August 2013 sentencing of former U.S. Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr., and his wife, Sandy Jackson.[12]

In December of 2013, Berman Jackson ruled that the Roman Catholic Diocese of Washington, D.C. must cover birth control and abortifacients for its employees under the Affordable Care Act despite a ban on abortion or contraception in Roman Catholic doctrine.[13]

Advocacy

Jackson served on the Board of the Washington D.C. Rape Crisis Center and has also been a member of the Parent Steering Committee of the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Biographical Directory of Federal Judges Jackson, Amy Berman". Federal Judicial Center. Archived from the original on 5 April 2011. Retrieved 2011-03-28.
  2. ↑ "President Obama Names Three to United States District Court, 6/17/10" (Press release). The White House. Retrieved 2010-06-25.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "ATTORNEYS, Amy Berman Jackson". Trout Cacheris PLLC. Retrieved 2011-03-28.
  4. ↑ http://m.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/president-obama-names-three-united-states-district-court-61710
  5. ↑ http://www.faqs.org/periodicals/201007/2109726671.html
  6. ↑ Senate Rollcall Vote
  7. ↑ Biographical Directory of Federal Judges
  8. ↑ "Judge Clears Rule on Union Posters at Work". Associated Press. March 3, 2012.
  9. ↑ Broder, John M. (March 24, 2012). "Court Reverses E.P.A. on Big Mining Project". The New York Times.
  10. ↑ Broder, John M. (April 24, 2013). "Court Backs E.P.A. Veto of Mining Permit". The New York Times.
  11. ↑ "EPA wins another round on Spruce Mine veto". The Charleston Gazette. September 30, 2014.
  12. ↑ http://www.pjstar.com/free/x1592819919/Ex-Congressman-Jesse-Jackson-Jr-faces-sentencing
  13. ↑ http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2013/12/23/315288.htm
Legal offices
Preceded by
Gladys Kessler		 Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia
2011–present 		Incumbent