Brian Anthony Jackson
Encyclopedia
Brian Anthony Jackson is an American lawyer and the Chief United States district judge on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana
.
in 1982 and a law degree in 1985 from Southern University Law Center
. He also earned a master of laws degree in international and comparative law from Georgetown University Law Center
in 2000.
office of the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service
. He served in that capacity until 1987, when he moved to Washington, D.C.
to serve as an Assistant General Counsel for the INS.
In 1988, Jackson left INS and returned to New Orleans, taking a job in the United States Attorney's office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, where he worked first as a Special Assistant United States Attorney and then, from 1990 until 1992, as a Assistant United States Attorney.
From 1992 until 1994, Jackson worked in the Executive Office for United States Attorneys in the United States Department of Justice
, serving as the Assistant Director for the Evaluation and Review staff. From 1994 until 2002, Jackson worked in the United States Attorney's office for the Middle District of Louisiana, serving as a First Assistant United States Attorney and then in 2001 as an interim United States Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana. During that tenure, Jackson also was detailed to Washington from 1998 until 1999 to work in the office of the United States Deputy Attorney General
, serving as the Associate Deputy Attorney General.
From 2002 until 2010, Jackson worked as a partner for Liskow & Lewis, a law firm with offices in New Orleans, Lafayette, and Houston.
approached Jackson and encouraged him to become a United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana. In April 2009, Landrieu notified Jackson that she was proceeding with recommending the incumbent U.S. Attorney, Jim Letten
, remain in place, but that given Jackson's many years in the federal courts that she believed him to be well-qualified to serve as a district judge. Soon afterward, Landrieu formally recommended that President Barack Obama
nominate Jackson to the seat.
On October 29, 2009, Obama formally nominated Jackson to fill the vacancy, which was created when Judge Frank Joseph Polozola
took senior status
in 2007.
Jackson's nomination was delayed for months due to a dispute between Landrieu and Vitter, but eventually Vitter approved of the nomination and a hearing was held before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
.
The Senate confirmed Jackson on June 15, 2010 in a 96-0 vote. On July 25, 2011, he became Chief Judge of the court, upon the death of Ralph E. Tyson
.
United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana
The United States Court for the Middle District of Louisiana comprises the parishes of Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, Saint Helena, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana. Court is held at the United States Courthouse in Baton Rouge, Louisiana...
.
Early life and education
Born in New Orleans, Jackson earned a bachelor's degree from Xavier University of LouisianaXavier University of Louisiana
Xavier University of Louisiana , located in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the United States, is a private, coeducational, liberal arts college with the distinction of being the only historically black Roman Catholic institution of higher education...
in 1982 and a law degree in 1985 from Southern University Law Center
Southern University Law Center
Southern University Law Center, a campus of the Southern University System, opened for instruction in September 1947. Its concept was born out of a response of a lawsuit by an African American resident, Charles J. Hatfield, III, seeking to attend law school at a state institution...
. He also earned a master of laws degree in international and comparative law from Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
in 2000.
Professional career
After graduating from law school in 1985, Jackson took a job as a general attorney for the Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
office of the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service
Immigration and Naturalization Service
The United States Immigration and Naturalization Service , now referred to as Legacy INS, ceased to exist under that name on March 1, 2003, when most of its functions were transferred from the Department of Justice to three new components within the newly created Department of Homeland Security, as...
. He served in that capacity until 1987, when he moved to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
to serve as an Assistant General Counsel for the INS.
In 1988, Jackson left INS and returned to New Orleans, taking a job in the United States Attorney's office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, where he worked first as a Special Assistant United States Attorney and then, from 1990 until 1992, as a Assistant United States Attorney.
From 1992 until 1994, Jackson worked in the Executive Office for United States Attorneys in the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
, serving as the Assistant Director for the Evaluation and Review staff. From 1994 until 2002, Jackson worked in the United States Attorney's office for the Middle District of Louisiana, serving as a First Assistant United States Attorney and then in 2001 as an interim United States Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana. During that tenure, Jackson also was detailed to Washington from 1998 until 1999 to work in the office of the United States Deputy Attorney General
United States Deputy Attorney General
United States Deputy Attorney General is the second-highest-ranking official in the United States Department of Justice. In the United States federal government, the Deputy Attorney General oversees the day-to-day operation of the Department of Justice, and may act as Attorney General during the...
, serving as the Associate Deputy Attorney General.
From 2002 until 2010, Jackson worked as a partner for Liskow & Lewis, a law firm with offices in New Orleans, Lafayette, and Houston.
Nomination to federal district court
In January 2009, U.S. Sen. Mary LandrieuMary Landrieu
Mary Loretta Landrieu is the senior United States Senator from the State of Louisiana and a member of the Democratic Party.Born in Arlington, Virginia, Landrieu was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana...
approached Jackson and encouraged him to become a United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana. In April 2009, Landrieu notified Jackson that she was proceeding with recommending the incumbent U.S. Attorney, Jim Letten
Jim Letten
-U.S. Attorney in New Orleans:After finishing his law degree at the Tulane University School of Law, Letten worked for Orleans Parish District Attorney Harry Connick, Sr. for four years and then began his career as a prosecutor for the U.S. Department of Justice...
, remain in place, but that given Jackson's many years in the federal courts that she believed him to be well-qualified to serve as a district judge. Soon afterward, Landrieu formally recommended that President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
nominate Jackson to the seat.
On October 29, 2009, Obama formally nominated Jackson to fill the vacancy, which was created when Judge Frank Joseph Polozola
Frank Joseph Polozola
Frank Joseph Polozola is a United States federal judge.Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Polozola received an LL.B. from Louisiana State University Law School in 1965. He was a law clerk, Hon. E. Gordon West, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Louisiana from 1965 to 1966. He was in private...
took senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
in 2007.
Jackson's nomination was delayed for months due to a dispute between Landrieu and Vitter, but eventually Vitter approved of the nomination and a hearing was held before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary is a standing committee of the United States Senate, of the United States Congress. The Judiciary Committee, with 18 members, is charged with conducting hearings prior to the Senate votes on confirmation of federal judges nominated by the...
.
The Senate confirmed Jackson on June 15, 2010 in a 96-0 vote. On July 25, 2011, he became Chief Judge of the court, upon the death of Ralph E. Tyson
Ralph E. Tyson
Ralph E. Tyson was a United States federal judge.Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Tyson received a B.A. from Louisiana State University in 1970 and a J.D. from Louisiana State University Law Center in 1973. He was in private practice from 1973 to 1988. He was an adjunct professor, Louisiana State...
.