Jean Constance Hamilton
Encyclopedia
Jean Constance Hamilton is a United States federal judge
.
Born in St. Louis, Missouri
, Hamilton received a B.A.
from Wellesley College in 1968, then a J.D.
from Washington University School of Law
in 1971, and an LL.M. from Yale Law School
in 1982. She was an attorney with the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice
in Washington, D.C.
from 1971 to 73. She was then an assistant United States Attorney
for the Eastern District of Missouri from 1973 to 1978. She was corporate counsel to Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in St. Louis from 1978 to 1981.
In 1982, Hamilton became a Circuit judge for Missouri's Twenty-second Judicial Circuit, and in 1988, she was elevated to the Missouri Court of Appeals
, Eastern District. During her service as a state court judge, Hamilton was an adjunct professor, teaching at St. Louis University Law School from 1986 to 1987, and in 1989, and at Washington University School of Law from 1987 to 1992.
On August 3, 1990, President George H. W. Bush
nominated Hamilton to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
vacated by John F. Nangle. She was confirmed by the United States Senate
on September 28, 1990, and received her commission on October 1, 1990. She served as chief judge from 1995 to 2002.
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....
.
Born in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Hamilton received a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Wellesley College in 1968, then 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 Washington University School of Law
Washington University School of Law
Washington University School of Law , is a private American law school located in St. Louis, Missouri. The law school is one of the seven graduate and undergraduate schools at Washington University in St. Louis....
in 1971, and an LL.M. from Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
in 1982. She was an attorney with the Civil Rights Division of 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...
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....
from 1971 to 73. She was then an assistant United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
for the Eastern District of Missouri from 1973 to 1978. She was corporate counsel to Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in St. Louis from 1978 to 1981.
In 1982, Hamilton became a Circuit judge for Missouri's Twenty-second Judicial Circuit, and in 1988, she was elevated to the Missouri Court of Appeals
Missouri Court of Appeals
The Missouri Court of Appeals is the intermediate appellate court for the state of Missouri. The court handles most of the appeals from the Missouri Circuit Courts. The court is divided into three districts: Eastern The Missouri Court of Appeals is the intermediate appellate court for the state...
, Eastern District. During her service as a state court judge, Hamilton was an adjunct professor, teaching at St. Louis University Law School from 1986 to 1987, and in 1989, and at Washington University School of Law from 1987 to 1992.
On August 3, 1990, President George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
nominated Hamilton to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri is a trial level federal district court based in St. Louis, Missouri, with jurisdiction over fifty counties in the eastern half of Missouri. The court is one of ninety-four district-level courts which make up the first tier of...
vacated by John F. Nangle. She 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 September 28, 1990, and received her commission on October 1, 1990. She served as chief judge from 1995 to 2002.