Diana Gribbon Motz
Encyclopedia
Diana Jane Gribbon Motz (born July 15, 1943) is a federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
, Motz was reared in a legal family. Her father was the renowned litigator Daniel J. Gribbon. She earned a bachelor's degree from Vassar College
in 1965 and a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law
in 1968. She was one of only two women in her law school class, she told the Baltimore Sun in an article that ran on July 22, 1994.
for the firm Piper & Marbury (now DLA Piper
) from 1968 until 1971. She became the assistant state attorney general for the state of Maryland in 1972, and served in that capacity until 1986, when she returned to private practice. In 1991, Motz returned to the public sector, becoming an associate judge for the Court of Special Appeals of Maryland. She worked in that court until her confirmation as a federal appeals court judge in 1994.
While assistant state attorney general for Maryland, Motz famously won a $268,482 judgment against former Vice President Spiro Agnew
to recover money he accepted as bribes while he was Maryland's governor.
, had been appointed a federal district court judge by President Ronald Reagan
in 1985, making the Motzes the first married couple to sit on the federal bench. "Yes, it's true: He's a Republican. It's his only flaw," Motz quipped to the Los Angeles Times
in an article that appeared on November 16, 1994.
Early life and education
Born in 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....
, Motz was reared in a legal family. Her father was the renowned litigator Daniel J. Gribbon. She earned a bachelor's degree from Vassar College
Vassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
in 1965 and a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law
University of Virginia School of Law
The University of Virginia School of Law was founded in Charlottesville in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson as one of the original subjects taught at his "academical village," the University of Virginia. The law school maintains an enrollment of approximately 1,100 students in its initial degree program...
in 1968. She was one of only two women in her law school class, she told the Baltimore Sun in an article that ran on July 22, 1994.
Professional career
Motz worked in private law practice in BaltimoreBaltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
for the firm Piper & Marbury (now DLA Piper
DLA Piper
DLA Piper is a global law firm with 76 offices across 30 countries and more than 4,200 lawyers. As of May 2011, it was the largest law firm in the world by number of attorneys. The firm's global revenues were $1.92 billion in 2009-2010. The firm is composed of two partnerships, DLA Piper...
) from 1968 until 1971. She became the assistant state attorney general for the state of Maryland in 1972, and served in that capacity until 1986, when she returned to private practice. In 1991, Motz returned to the public sector, becoming an associate judge for the Court of Special Appeals of Maryland. She worked in that court until her confirmation as a federal appeals court judge in 1994.
While assistant state attorney general for Maryland, Motz famously won a $268,482 judgment against former Vice President Spiro Agnew
Spiro Agnew
Spiro Theodore Agnew was the 39th Vice President of the United States , serving under President Richard Nixon, and the 55th Governor of Maryland...
to recover money he accepted as bribes while he was Maryland's governor.
Federal judicial service
On January 27, 1994, President Clinton nominated Motz to a newly created seat on the Fourth Circuit. She was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate in a voice vote on June 15, 1994, becoming the first woman from Maryland ever to sit on the Fourth Circuit. Motz's husband, J. Frederick MotzJ. Frederick Motz
J. Frederick Motz is a United States federal judge.Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Motz received an A.B. from Wesleyan University in 1964 and an LL.B. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1967. He was a law clerk, Hon. Harrison L. Winter, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit from 1967 to...
, had been appointed a federal district court judge by President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
in 1985, making the Motzes the first married couple to sit on the federal bench. "Yes, it's true: He's a Republican. It's his only flaw," Motz quipped to the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
in an article that appeared on November 16, 1994.