Jeffrey J. Helmick

Jeffrey Helmick
Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
Incumbent
Assumed office
June 7, 2012
Appointed by Barack Obama
Preceded by James Carr
Personal details
Born 1960 (age 5455)
Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
Spouse(s) Karen Helmick
Alma mater University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Ohio State University, Columbus

Jeffrey James Helmick (born 1960) is a United States District Judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

Early life and education

Born in Toledo, Ohio, Helmick earned a bachelor's degree in 1983 from the University of Michigan and a law degree in 1988 from the Moritz College of Law at The Ohio State University.[1]

Professional career

From 1988 until 1989, Helmick worked as an associate at the law firm Marshall & Melhorn. From 1989 until 1995, he worked as a principal in a law firm, and then he was a principal in another law firm from 1996 until 1998. Helmick co-founded his current law firm in 1998 and concentrates in federal criminal defense litigation.[1]

Federal judicial service

On May 11, 2011, President Obama nominated Helmick to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio that had been vacated by Judge James G. Carr, who took senior status in June 2010.[2] He was recommended for the post by senators George Voinovich and Sherrod Brown.

On February 15, 2012, Helmick received a hearing before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, with the support of Sherrod Brown and Voinovich's successor, Rob Portman. [3]

On March 8, 2012, Helmick's nomination was reported to the floor of the Senate by the Senate Judiciary Committee by a vote of 11–6. In the Senate debate over Helmick's nomination, there was some controversy over Helmick's representation of accused terrorist and Toledo terror plot organizer Wassim Mazloum in 2009 as well as an ethics case that had gone to the Supreme Court of Ohio.[4] Sen. Chuck Grassley in particular opposed Helmick for his role as a court-appointed attorney for Mazloum, who was ultimately convicted. However, Helmick was backed by both Democratic Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown and Republican Ohio Sen. Rob Portman.[5]

On June 6, 2012, the Senate voted 62–36 to confirm Helmick.[6] He received his commission on June 7, 2012.[7]

References

External links

Legal offices
Preceded by
James Carr
Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
2012–present
Incumbent