William K. Sessions III
Encyclopedia
William K. Sessions III is currently serving as judge
on the United States District Court
in the United States District Court for the District of Vermont
and as the Chair of the United States Sentencing Commission
. He was confirmed on October 21, 2009 as Chair of the United States Sentencing Commission.
Sessions was educated at Middlebury College
where he earned a B.A. in 1969. He earned a J.D. in 1972 from The George Washington University Law School
. Sessions served as a U.S. Army First Lieutenant. He was a law clerk for Judge Hilton Dier in Addison County District Court in 1973. He later worked for the Addison County
Public Defender before entering private practice in 1978. He also worked as an adjunct professor at Vermont Law School
from 1978 until 1995.
Sessions was nominated by Bill Clinton
on June 30, 1995, to a seat vacated by Fred I. Parker
. He was confirmed by the Senate
on August 11, 1995, and received his commission on August 14, 1995. Sessions has served as chief judge, 2002–present.
On September 12, 2007, Judge William Sessions of the federal district court in Vermont ruled in favor of the Sierra Club
, the states of Vermont
and New York
, and other environmental groups in rejecting the auto industry’s attempt to block states from regulating global warming emissions from cars. Session’s ruling opens the doors for New York and Vermont to proceed with enacting the California Clean Car (Pavley) Standards, pending EPA
approval. These standards, adopted by California and at least 11 other states, aim to reduce global warming emissions from cars by 30 percent when fully implemented in 2016. This precedent will likely have an important impact on similar cases pending in California and Rhode Island.
On April 20, 2009, President Barack Obama
nominated Sessions to be Chair of the United States Sentencing Commission.
Sessions' nomination languished with no full Senate vote for more than six months, with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
contending that Senate Republicans had stalled Sessions' nomination in retaliation for the speed of Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor
's confirmation process. Reid filed cloture on Sessions' nomination on October 20, 2009, and the Senate confirmed Sessions in a voice vote on October 21, 2009.
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
on the United States District Court
United States district court
The United States district courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system. Both civil and criminal cases are filed in the district court, which is a court of law, equity, and admiralty. There is a United States bankruptcy court associated with each United States...
in the United States District Court for the District of Vermont
United States District Court for the District of Vermont
The United States District Court for the District of Vermont is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction is the federal district of Vermont. The court has locations in Brattleboro, Burlington, and Rutland. The Court was created under the Judiciary Act of 1791 under the jurisdiction of the...
and as the Chair of the United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
The United States Sentencing Commission is an independent agency of the judicial branch of the federal government of the United States. It is responsible for articulating the sentencing guidelines for the United States federal courts...
. He was confirmed on October 21, 2009 as Chair of the United States Sentencing Commission.
Sessions was educated at Middlebury College
Middlebury College
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont, USA. Founded in 1800, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the United States. Drawing 2,400 undergraduates from all 50 United States and over 70 countries, Middlebury offers 44 majors in the arts,...
where he earned a B.A. in 1969. He earned a J.D. in 1972 from The George Washington University Law School
The George Washington University Law School
The George Washington University Law School, commonly referred to as GW Law, is the law school of The George Washington University. It was founded in 1825 and is the oldest law school in Washington, D.C. The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a charter member of the...
. Sessions served as a U.S. Army First Lieutenant. He was a law clerk for Judge Hilton Dier in Addison County District Court in 1973. He later worked for the Addison County
Addison County, Vermont
Addison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. In 2010, the population was 36,821. Its shire town is Middlebury.-Geography:...
Public Defender before entering private practice in 1978. He also worked as an adjunct professor at Vermont Law School
Vermont Law School
Vermont Law School is a private, American Bar Association accredited law school located in South Royalton, Vermont . The Law School has one of the United States' leading programs in environmental law, and the Law School is currently ranked #1 in Environmental Law by U.S...
from 1978 until 1995.
Sessions was nominated by 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...
on June 30, 1995, to a seat vacated by Fred I. Parker
Fred I. Parker
Fred I. Parker was a federal judge in the United States.- Early life and education :A native of Boston, Parker attended the University of Massachusetts and Georgetown University Law Center...
. He was confirmed by the 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 August 11, 1995, and received his commission on August 14, 1995. Sessions has served as chief judge, 2002–present.
On September 12, 2007, Judge William Sessions of the federal district court in Vermont ruled in favor of the Sierra Club
Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. It was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by the conservationist and preservationist John Muir, who became its first president...
, the states of Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and other environmental groups in rejecting the auto industry’s attempt to block states from regulating global warming emissions from cars. Session’s ruling opens the doors for New York and Vermont to proceed with enacting the California Clean Car (Pavley) Standards, pending EPA
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
approval. These standards, adopted by California and at least 11 other states, aim to reduce global warming emissions from cars by 30 percent when fully implemented in 2016. This precedent will likely have an important impact on similar cases pending in California and Rhode Island.
On April 20, 2009, President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
nominated Sessions to be Chair of the United States Sentencing Commission.
Sessions' nomination languished with no full Senate vote for more than six months, with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
Harry Reid
Harry Mason Reid is the senior United States Senator from Nevada, serving since 1987. A member of the Democratic Party, he has been the Senate Majority Leader since January 2007, having previously served as Minority Leader and Minority and Majority Whip.Previously, Reid was a member of the U.S...
contending that Senate Republicans had stalled Sessions' nomination in retaliation for the speed of Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor
Sonia Sotomayor
Sonia Maria Sotomayor is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, serving since August 2009. Sotomayor is the Court's 111th justice, its first Hispanic justice, and its third female justice....
's confirmation process. Reid filed cloture on Sessions' nomination on October 20, 2009, and the Senate confirmed Sessions in a voice vote on October 21, 2009.