David C. Godbey
Encyclopedia
David C. Godbey is a United States federal judge
serving on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
in Dallas, Texas
.
Godbey received a B.S.
in electrical engineering from Southern Methodist University
in 1978 and a J.D.
from Harvard Law School
in 1982. He was a law clerk
to Judge Irving Goldberg
of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
from 1982 to 1983. He was in private practice in Dallas from 1983 to 1994. He was a judge on the 160th District Court, State of Texas from 1994 to 2002.
Godbey was nominated by President George W. Bush
on January 23, 2002, to a seat vacated by Robert B. Maloney
. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on August 1, 2002, and received his commission on August 2, 2002.
Godbey holds a black belt
in taekwondo
.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
serving on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas is a United States district court. Its first judge, Andrew Phelps McCormick, was appointed to the court on April 10, 1879. The court convenes in Dallas, Texas with divisions in Fort Worth, Amarillo, Abilene, Lubbock, San Angelo...
in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
.
Godbey received a B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in electrical engineering from Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
in 1978 and a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in 1982. He was a law clerk
Law clerk
A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Law clerks are not court clerks or courtroom deputies, who are administrative staff for the court. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who...
to Judge Irving Goldberg
Irving Loeb Goldberg
Irving Loeb Goldberg was a United States federal judge.Born in Port Arthur, Texas, Goldberg received a B.A. from the University of Texas in 1926 and an LL.B. from Harvard Law School in 1929. He was in private practice in Beaumont, Texas in 1929, in Houston, Texas in 1930, and in Taylor, Texas in...
of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Eastern District of Louisiana* Middle District of Louisiana...
from 1982 to 1983. He was in private practice in Dallas from 1983 to 1994. He was a judge on the 160th District Court, State of Texas from 1994 to 2002.
Godbey was nominated by President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
on January 23, 2002, to a seat vacated by Robert B. Maloney
Robert B. Maloney
Robert B. Maloney is a United States federal judge.Born in Dallas, Texas, Maloney received a B.B.A. from Southern Methodist University in 1956 and a J.D. from Southern Methodist University School of Law in 1960. He was an Assistant district attorney of Dallas County, Texas from 1961 to 1962. He...
. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on August 1, 2002, and received his commission on August 2, 2002.
Godbey holds a black belt
Black belt (martial arts)
In martial arts, the black belt is a way to describe a graduate of a field where a practitioner's level is often marked by the color of the belt. The black belt is commonly the highest belt color used and denotes a degree of competence. It is often associated with a teaching grade though...
in taekwondo
Taekwondo
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"...
.
Sources
- John Council, "A Black Belt in a Black Robe", Texas Lawyer, July 27, 2009 (registration required)