S. Elizabeth Gibson
Encyclopedia
S. Elizabeth Gibson is a law professor at the University of North Carolina School of Law
and a former federal judicial nominee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
, Gibson earned a bachelor's degree
cum laude from Duke University
in 1972 and a law degree with high honors from the University of North Carolina School of Law
in 1976.
From 1977 until 1978, Gibson worked as a law clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Byron White
. She worked in private practice from 1978 until 1983, when she joined the University of North Carolina School of Law
as an associate professor. Gibson became a full professor at the law school in 1988. Gibson also began working as a consultant for the Federal Judicial Center
in 1998.
, President Clinton nominated Gibson to a vacancy on the Fourth Circuit that was created by the death the previous year of Judge Samuel James Ervin III
. With just two weeks until the presidential election and opposition to North Carolina appeals-court judicial nominees throughout Clinton's entire presidency by North Carolina Sen. Jesse Helms
, Gibson's nomination languished. "The good thing for me is I have a job right now that I love," Gibson told the Raleigh News and Observer in an article that was published on October 28, 2000. "So if this works out, that would be great. If not, that's OK."
Since Gibson was nominated after July 1, 2000, the unofficial start date of the Thurmond Rule
during a presidential election year, no hearings were scheduled on her nomination, and the nomination was returned to Clinton at the end of his term. President George W. Bush chose not to renominate Gibson to the Fourth Circuit.
In 2003, President Bush nominated Allyson Duncan to the Fourth Circuit seat to which Gibson had been nominated. The U.S. Senate confirmed Duncan later that year.
, J. Rich Leonard, James A. Wynn, Jr.
, Patricia Timmons-Goodson
, Martha A. Geer
and Charles Becton
.
University of North Carolina School of Law
The University of North Carolina School of Law is a professional school within the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Established in 1845, Carolina Law is among the oldest law schools in the nation and is the oldest law school in North Carolina. It is consistently ranked in the top-tier...
and a former federal judicial nominee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
Early life and education
A native of Raleigh, North CarolinaRaleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
, Gibson earned a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
cum laude from Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
in 1972 and a law degree with high honors from the University of North Carolina School of Law
University of North Carolina School of Law
The University of North Carolina School of Law is a professional school within the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Established in 1845, Carolina Law is among the oldest law schools in the nation and is the oldest law school in North Carolina. It is consistently ranked in the top-tier...
in 1976.
Professional career
From 1976 until 1977, Gibson clerked for Fourth Circuit Judge James Braxton Craven, Jr.James Braxton Craven, Jr.
James Braxton Craven, Jr. was a United States federal judge.Craven was born in Lenoir, North Carolina. He received an A.B. from Duke University in 1939 and an LL.B. from Harvard Law School in 1942. He was a Solicitor for Burke County, North Carolina in 1947. He was in private practice of law in...
From 1977 until 1978, Gibson worked as a law clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Byron White
Byron White
Byron Raymond "Whizzer" White won fame both as a football halfback and as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Appointed to the court by President John F. Kennedy in 1962, he served until his retirement in 1993...
. She worked in private practice from 1978 until 1983, when she joined the University of North Carolina School of Law
University of North Carolina School of Law
The University of North Carolina School of Law is a professional school within the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Established in 1845, Carolina Law is among the oldest law schools in the nation and is the oldest law school in North Carolina. It is consistently ranked in the top-tier...
as an associate professor. Gibson became a full professor at the law school in 1988. Gibson also began working as a consultant for the Federal Judicial Center
Federal Judicial Center
The Federal Judicial Center is the education and research agency of the United States federal courts. It was established by an Act of Congress in 1967, at the recommendation of the Judicial Conference of the United States....
in 1998.
Nomination to the Fourth Circuit
On October 26, 2000, on the recommendation of Sen. John EdwardsJohn Edwards
Johnny Reid "John" Edwards is an American politician, who served as a U.S. Senator from North Carolina. He was the Democratic nominee for Vice President in 2004, and was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 and 2008.He defeated incumbent Republican Lauch Faircloth in...
, President Clinton nominated Gibson to a vacancy on the Fourth Circuit that was created by the death the previous year of Judge Samuel James Ervin III
Samuel James Ervin III
Samuel James Ervin III was a United States federal judge and the son of U.S. Senator Sam Ervin.Ervin was born in Morganton, North Carolina. He received a B.S. from Davidson College in 1948 and an LL.B. from Harvard Law School in 1951. He served in the United States Army from 1944 to 1946 and from...
. With just two weeks until the presidential election and opposition to North Carolina appeals-court judicial nominees throughout Clinton's entire presidency by North Carolina Sen. Jesse Helms
Jesse Helms
Jesse Alexander Helms, Jr. was a five-term Republican United States Senator from North Carolina who served as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from 1995 to 2001...
, Gibson's nomination languished. "The good thing for me is I have a job right now that I love," Gibson told the Raleigh News and Observer in an article that was published on October 28, 2000. "So if this works out, that would be great. If not, that's OK."
Since Gibson was nominated after July 1, 2000, the unofficial start date of the Thurmond Rule
Thurmond Rule
The Thurmond Rule is an informal and somewhat amorphous rule of thumb in the United States Senate. While it originated with former Senator Strom Thurmond's opposition to President Lyndon Johnson's nomination of Justice Abe Fortas to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in June of 1968, its...
during a presidential election year, no hearings were scheduled on her nomination, and the nomination was returned to Clinton at the end of his term. President George W. Bush chose not to renominate Gibson to the Fourth Circuit.
In 2003, President Bush nominated Allyson Duncan to the Fourth Circuit seat to which Gibson had been nominated. The U.S. Senate confirmed Duncan later that year.
Possible renomination to the Fourth Circuit under Obama
It has been reported that President-elect Obama is actively considering re-nominating Gibson to the Fourth Circuit. Other names mentioned have been Robert Spearman, James A. Beaty, Jr.James A. Beaty, Jr.
James A. Beaty, Jr. is a United States federal judge serving on the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, and a former nominee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit....
, J. Rich Leonard, James A. Wynn, Jr.
James A. Wynn, Jr.
James Andrew Wynn, Jr. is an American jurist, currently a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and formerly on both the North Carolina Court of Appeals and the North Carolina Supreme Court....
, Patricia Timmons-Goodson
Patricia Timmons-Goodson
Patricia 'Pat' Timmons-Goodson is an American judge, currently an associate justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court....
, Martha A. Geer
Martha A. Geer
Martha A. Geer is an American judge, currently serving as a judge of the North Carolina Court of Appeals.Geer was born in Grinnell, Iowa and spent most of her childhood in Virginia, where her parents were teachers. Geer attended Bryn Mawr College and earned a degree in sociology before earning a...
and Charles Becton
Charles Becton
Charles L. Becton is an attorney, former judge of the North Carolina Court of Appeals, and as of 2008, president of the North Carolina Bar Association. Becton is the first A African-American to hold the post)....
.
See also
- List of law clerks of the Supreme Court of the United States
- Bill Clinton judicial appointment controversies