Steve A. Matthews
Encyclopedia
Steve A. Matthews is an American lawyer
and unsuccessful nominee to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
.
in History
from the University of South Carolina
, graduating magna cum laude in 1977. He received his J.D. from Yale Law School
in 1980. During his time at the University of South Carolina, Mr. Matthews was a member of the Euphradian Society
and completed a semester at the University of Warwick
in Coventry, England.
After law school, Matthews briefly worked at the law firm of Boyd, Knowlton, Tate & Finlay (now Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A.). In 1981, he began work at the firm of Dewey Ballantine
in Washington, D.C., where he practiced corporate law for five years. Matthews left Dewey Ballantine in 1985 to work at the Department of Justice
under Attorney General
Edwin Meese
.
During his three years at the Justice Department, Matthews served as the Special Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights (1985-6), Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Judicial Selection (1986-8), Special Assistant to Attorney General Meese for Iran-Contra Matters (1987), and Executive Assistant to Attorney General Meese (1988). Matthews’ duties included advising President Reagan and the Attorney General on federal judicial nominees, and later in his tenure Matthews provided legal advice to the Attorney General when he was investigated for his role in the Iran-Contra scandal. While at the Justice Department, Matthews also worked with Fred Fielding, the future White House Counsel
under George W. Bush
, who was then counsel to President Ronald Reagan
.
In 1988, Matthews returned to South Carolina to join the firm of Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd. Matthews served as Co-Managing Director of his firm from 2001 to 2004, and was the Managing Director from 2004 to 2008. His areas of practice include Intellectual Property, Business and Commercial Litigation.
nominated Matthews to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
vacated by Judge William Walter Wilkins
, who had taken senior status
on July 1, 2007. Although he had the support of South Carolina's two Republican senators, Lindsey Graham
and Jim DeMint
, Matthews ran into immediate opposition from Senate Democrats and liberal groups such as People for the American Way
and the Alliance for Justice
. There were concerns over Matthews' conservative political connections.
The People for the American Way
did not like the close connection he had with several in President Ronald Reagan
's administration, in particular Assistant Attorney General
William Bradford Reynolds, whom the group accused of being "notable for his efforts to undermine civil rights enforcement." In a memo to Reynolds analyzing proposed language from the Federal Highway Administrator for a "revised procurement preference for 'disadvantaged business enterprises' in highway construction contracts," Matthews wrote that contracting set-asides, "when tied to particular racial groups, are discriminatory and wrong." Also in his capacity as Special Counsel to Reynolds, Matthews wrote a confidential memorandum to the Department's Honor Program Evaluation Committee concerning the structure of the Honor Program Hiring Committee on which Matthews then served (and blind-copied Reynolds). In that memo, Matthews opposed efforts to ensure racial and gender diversity on the Hiring Committee. According to Matthews, while "a diversity of perspective is critical to the successful work of a hiring committee ... to suggest that the relevant diversity is a function of race and gender involves a stereotype that denies the individuality of particular members of a given race or gender."
The Alliance for Justice
did not like the connection Matthews had with the Federalist Society
and the Landmark Legal Foundation
.
During the 110th Congress, Senator Patrick Leahy
D-VT, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, refused to schedule a hearing for Matthews.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and unsuccessful nominee to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit is a federal court located in Richmond, Virginia, with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:*District of Maryland*Eastern District of North Carolina...
.
Background
Matthews received his 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...
in History
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
from the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
, graduating magna cum laude in 1977. He received his J.D. 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 1980. During his time at the University of South Carolina, Mr. Matthews was a member of the Euphradian Society
Euphradian Society
The Euphradian Society, also known as ΦAΕ , is a literary society founded in 1806 at the University of South Carolina, then known as South Carolina College, as a result of the splitting in two of the Philomathic Society, which had been formed within weeks of the opening of the college in 1805 and...
and completed a semester at the University of Warwick
University of Warwick
The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
in Coventry, England.
After law school, Matthews briefly worked at the law firm of Boyd, Knowlton, Tate & Finlay (now Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A.). In 1981, he began work at the firm of Dewey Ballantine
Dewey Ballantine
Dewey Ballantine LLP was a white shoe corporate law firm headquartered in New York City. In 2007, Dewey Ballantine merged with LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae to form Dewey & LeBoeuf...
in Washington, D.C., where he practiced corporate law for five years. Matthews left Dewey Ballantine in 1985 to work at the 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...
under Attorney General
United States Attorney General
The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government...
Edwin Meese
Edwin Meese
Edwin "Ed" Meese, III is an attorney, law professor, and author who served in official capacities within the Ronald Reagan Gubernatorial Administration , the Reagan Presidential Transition Team , and the Reagan White House , eventually rising to hold the position of the 75th Attorney General of...
.
During his three years at the Justice Department, Matthews served as the Special Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights (1985-6), Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Judicial Selection (1986-8), Special Assistant to Attorney General Meese for Iran-Contra Matters (1987), and Executive Assistant to Attorney General Meese (1988). Matthews’ duties included advising President Reagan and the Attorney General on federal judicial nominees, and later in his tenure Matthews provided legal advice to the Attorney General when he was investigated for his role in the Iran-Contra scandal. While at the Justice Department, Matthews also worked with Fred Fielding, the future White House Counsel
White House Counsel
The White House Counsel is a staff appointee of the President of the United States.-Role:The Counsel's role is to advise the President on all legal issues concerning the President and the White House...
under 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....
, who was then counsel to 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 1988, Matthews returned to South Carolina to join the firm of Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd. Matthews served as Co-Managing Director of his firm from 2001 to 2004, and was the Managing Director from 2004 to 2008. His areas of practice include Intellectual Property, Business and Commercial Litigation.
Fourth Circuit nomination under Bush
On September 6, 2007, President George W. BushGeorge 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....
nominated Matthews to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit is a federal court located in Richmond, Virginia, with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:*District of Maryland*Eastern District of North Carolina...
vacated by Judge William Walter Wilkins
William Walter Wilkins
William Walter Wilkins is a former United States federal judge.Born in Anderson, South Carolina, Wilkins received a B.A. from Davidson College in 1964 and a J.D. from the University of South Carolina Law School in 1967. He served on active duty for two years, in active reserves, and the South...
, who had taken senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on July 1, 2007. Although he had the support of South Carolina's two Republican senators, Lindsey Graham
Lindsey Graham
Lindsey Olin Graham is the senior U.S. Senator from South Carolina and a member of the Republican Party. Previously he served as the U.S. Representative for .-Early life, education and career:...
and Jim DeMint
Jim DeMint
James Warren "Jim" DeMint is the junior U.S. Senator from South Carolina, serving since 2005. He is a member of the Republican Party and a leader in the Tea Party movement. He previously served as the U.S. Representative for from 1999 to 2005.-Early life and education:DeMint was born in...
, Matthews ran into immediate opposition from Senate Democrats and liberal groups such as People for the American Way
People For the American Way
People For the American Way is a progressive advocacy group in the United States. Under U.S. tax code, People For the American Way is organized as a tax-exempt 501 non-profit organization.-Purpose:...
and the Alliance for Justice
Alliance for Justice
Alliance for Justice is a national association of environmental, civil rights, mental health, women's, children's and consumer advocacy organizations in the USA....
. There were concerns over Matthews' conservative political connections.
The People for the American Way
People For the American Way
People For the American Way is a progressive advocacy group in the United States. Under U.S. tax code, People For the American Way is organized as a tax-exempt 501 non-profit organization.-Purpose:...
did not like the close connection he had with several in 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....
's administration, in particular Assistant Attorney General
United States Attorney General
The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government...
William Bradford Reynolds, whom the group accused of being "notable for his efforts to undermine civil rights enforcement." In a memo to Reynolds analyzing proposed language from the Federal Highway Administrator for a "revised procurement preference for 'disadvantaged business enterprises' in highway construction contracts," Matthews wrote that contracting set-asides, "when tied to particular racial groups, are discriminatory and wrong." Also in his capacity as Special Counsel to Reynolds, Matthews wrote a confidential memorandum to the Department's Honor Program Evaluation Committee concerning the structure of the Honor Program Hiring Committee on which Matthews then served (and blind-copied Reynolds). In that memo, Matthews opposed efforts to ensure racial and gender diversity on the Hiring Committee. According to Matthews, while "a diversity of perspective is critical to the successful work of a hiring committee ... to suggest that the relevant diversity is a function of race and gender involves a stereotype that denies the individuality of particular members of a given race or gender."
The Alliance for Justice
Alliance for Justice
Alliance for Justice is a national association of environmental, civil rights, mental health, women's, children's and consumer advocacy organizations in the USA....
did not like the connection Matthews had with the Federalist Society
Federalist Society
The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies, most frequently called simply the Federalist Society, is an organization of conservatives seeking reform of the current American legal system in accordance with a textualist and/or originalist interpretation of the U.S. Constitution...
and the Landmark Legal Foundation
Landmark Legal Foundation
The Landmark Legal Foundation is non-profit 5013 conservative legal advocacy group, with a $1 million annual budget. The President is Mark Levin. Through litigation and direct interfacing with government agencies, it advances a platform of limited government...
.
During the 110th Congress, Senator Patrick Leahy
Patrick Leahy
Patrick Joseph Leahy is the senior United States Senator from Vermont and member of the Democratic Party. He is the first and only elected Democratic United States Senator in Vermont's history. He is the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Leahy is the second most senior U.S. Senator,...
D-VT, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, refused to schedule a hearing for Matthews.