Pamela Ann Rymer
Encyclopedia
Pamela Ann Rymer was a United States federal judge
.
Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, Rymer earned an A.B.
from Vassar College
in 1961 and an LL.B. from Stanford Law School
in 1964. She was Director of Political Research and Analysis for the Goldwater
for President Committee in 1964. From 1965 to 1966, she was vice president of Rus Walton and Associates in Los Altos, California
. Rymer then entered private practice from 1966 through 1983 in Los Angeles, California. She was also a member and chairman of the California Post-Secondary Education Commission from 1974 to 1984.
On January 31, 1983, Rymer was nominated by President Ronald Reagan
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Central District of California
vacated by William P. Gray. She was confirmed by the United States Senate
on February 23, 1983, and received her commission the following day. In 1987, Reagan attempted to elevate Rymer to the seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
vacated by the elevation of Anthony Mcleod Kennedy to the Supreme Court of the United States
, but was rebuffed in the Senate. However, on February 28, 1989, President George H.W. Bush nominated Rymer to the same seat, and this time, she was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 18, 1989, receiving her commission on May 22, 1989.
Rymer served on the Stanford University
Board of Trustees from 1991 to 2001.
In 2010, Rymer received the Stanford Medal for her volunteer work for the university, where two scholarship funds had been created in her name.
Rymer died on September 21, 2011. During her 22 years on the Ninth Circuit, Rymer sat on more than 800 panels and wrote 335 panel decisions. One of the more notable opinions was in Planned Parenthood v. American Coalition of Life Activists (2002), which held that threats on the Internet against doctors who performed abortions were not protected by the First Amendment. Fellow judge Stephen Trott said she was a "brilliant jurist" and "a joy to work with".
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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 Knoxville, Tennessee, Rymer earned an A.B.
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 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 1961 and an LL.B. from Stanford Law School
Stanford Law School
Stanford Law School is a graduate school at Stanford University located in the area known as the Silicon Valley, near Palo Alto, California in the United States. The Law School was established in 1893 when former President Benjamin Harrison joined the faculty as the first professor of law...
in 1964. She was Director of Political Research and Analysis for the Goldwater
Barry Goldwater
Barry Morris Goldwater was a five-term United States Senator from Arizona and the Republican Party's nominee for President in the 1964 election. An articulate and charismatic figure during the first half of the 1960s, he was known as "Mr...
for President Committee in 1964. From 1965 to 1966, she was vice president of Rus Walton and Associates in Los Altos, California
Los Altos, California
Los Altos is a city at the southern end of the San Francisco Peninsula, in the San Francisco Bay Area. The city is in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The population was 28,976 according to the 2010 census....
. Rymer then entered private practice from 1966 through 1983 in Los Angeles, California. She was also a member and chairman of the California Post-Secondary Education Commission from 1974 to 1984.
On January 31, 1983, Rymer was nominated 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....
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Central District of California
United States District Court for the Central District of California
The United States District Court for the Central District of California serves over 18 million people in southern and central California, making it the largest federal judicial district by population...
vacated by William P. Gray. 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 February 23, 1983, and received her commission the following day. In 1987, Reagan attempted to elevate Rymer to the seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is a U.S. federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* District of Alaska* District of Arizona...
vacated by the elevation of Anthony Mcleod Kennedy to the Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
, but was rebuffed in the Senate. However, on February 28, 1989, President George H.W. Bush nominated Rymer to the same seat, and this time, she was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 18, 1989, receiving her commission on May 22, 1989.
Rymer served on the Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
Board of Trustees from 1991 to 2001.
In 2010, Rymer received the Stanford Medal for her volunteer work for the university, where two scholarship funds had been created in her name.
Rymer died on September 21, 2011. During her 22 years on the Ninth Circuit, Rymer sat on more than 800 panels and wrote 335 panel decisions. One of the more notable opinions was in Planned Parenthood v. American Coalition of Life Activists (2002), which held that threats on the Internet against doctors who performed abortions were not protected by the First Amendment. Fellow judge Stephen Trott said she was a "brilliant jurist" and "a joy to work with".
See also
- Ronald Reagan judicial appointment controversiesRonald Reagan judicial appointment controversiesDuring President Ronald Reagan's presidency, he nominated at least twelve people for various federal appellate judgeships who were not confirmed. In some cases, the nominations were not processed by the Democratic-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee before Reagan's presidency ended, while in...
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