Victoria A. Roberts
Encyclopedia
Victoria A. Roberts is a United States federal judge
.
Born in Detroit, Michigan
, Roberts received her B.A.
from the University of Michigan
in 1973, and her J.D.
from Northeastern University School of Law
in 1977. She was a research attorney for the Michigan Court of Appeals
from 1976 to 1977, and was a legal research & writing teaching fellow at the Detroit College of Law, Michigan State University
from 1977 to 1978. She was in private practice in Michigan
from 1977 to 1985. She was an assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan from 1985 to 1988, returning to private practice in Detroit from 1988 to 1998. She was general counsel for Mayor-Elect Dennis Archer
's Transition Team from 1993 to 1994.
On July 31, 1997, Roberts was nominated by President Bill Clinton
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
vacated by George LaPlata. She was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate
on June 26, 1998, and received her commission on June 29, 1998.
In a ruling, May 3, 2010, Roberts overturned an earlier decision of Federal Magistrate Donald J. Scheer regarding the Federal detainment of nine members of a Michigan militia called Hutaree. Roberts stated:"Discussions about killing local law enforcement officers — and even discussions about killing members of the judicial branch of government — do not translate to conspiring to overthrow, or levy way against, the United States government,." Her decision was stayed by the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati and successfully appealed.
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 Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, Roberts received her 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 the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1973, and her 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 Northeastern University School of Law
Northeastern University School of Law
Northeastern University School of Law is a law school in Boston, Massachusetts. From the time of its founding in 1898, the law school's mission has focused on addressing the needs of students and of society....
in 1977. She was a research attorney for the Michigan Court of Appeals
Michigan Court of Appeals
The Michigan Court of Appeals is the intermediate-level appellate court of the state of Michigan. It was created by the Michigan Constitution of 1963, and commenced operations in 1965...
from 1976 to 1977, and was a legal research & writing teaching fellow at the Detroit College of Law, Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
from 1977 to 1978. She was in private practice in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
from 1977 to 1985. She was an assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan from 1985 to 1988, returning to private practice in Detroit from 1988 to 1998. She was general counsel for Mayor-Elect Dennis Archer
Dennis Archer
Dennis Wayne Archer is an American lawyer and politician from Michigan. A Democrat, Archer served on the Michigan Supreme Court and as mayor of Detroit...
's Transition Team from 1993 to 1994.
On July 31, 1997, Roberts was nominated by President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan is the Federal district court with jurisdiction over of the eastern portion of the state of Michigan. The Court is based in Detroit, with courthouses also located in Ann Arbor, Bay City, Flint, and Port Huron...
vacated by George LaPlata. She was unanimously 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 June 26, 1998, and received her commission on June 29, 1998.
In a ruling, May 3, 2010, Roberts overturned an earlier decision of Federal Magistrate Donald J. Scheer regarding the Federal detainment of nine members of a Michigan militia called Hutaree. Roberts stated:"Discussions about killing local law enforcement officers — and even discussions about killing members of the judicial branch of government — do not translate to conspiring to overthrow, or levy way against, the United States government,." Her decision was stayed by the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati and successfully appealed.