William M. Conley
Encyclopedia
William Martin Conley is an American lawyer and a federal judge for the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
.
, Conley attended St. Joseph's elementary school and Rice Lake High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in economics and political science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1978 and a law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School
in 1982. He was elected to the Order of the Coif
and served as articles editor of the Wisconsin Law Review. He worked as a law clerk for Judge Thomas E. Fairchild
on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
from 1982 until 1984.
in its Madison, Wisconsin
office. He was an associate from 1984 until 1992 and a partner from 1992 until 2010.
nominated Conley to serve on the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
. Conley would fill the vacancy created by Judge Barbara Brandriff Crabb
's announcement in March 2009 that she would take senior status
. On December 10, 2009 the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
forwarded his nomination to the full United States Senate
. Conley was unanimously confirmed, 99-0 on March 4, 2010.
United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin sits in Madison at the Robert W. Kastenmeier United States Courthouse. It has two district judges and one full-time magistrate judge. The clerk of the court is a part-time magistrate judge...
.
Early life and education
Born in Rice Lake, WisconsinRice Lake, Wisconsin
Rice Lake is a city in Barron County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 8,320. The city is located mostly within the Town of Rice Lake.-Geography:Rice Lake is located at ....
, Conley attended St. Joseph's elementary school and Rice Lake High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in economics and political science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1978 and a law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School
University of Wisconsin Law School
The University of Wisconsin Law School is the professional school for the study of law at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in Madison, Wisconsin. The law school was founded in 1868.-Facilities:...
in 1982. He was elected to the Order of the Coif
Order of the Coif
The Order of the Coif is an honor society for United States law school graduates. A student at an American law school who earns a Juris Doctor degree and graduates in the top 10 percent of his or her class is eligible for membership if the student's law school has a chapter of the...
and served as articles editor of the Wisconsin Law Review. He worked as a law clerk for Judge Thomas E. Fairchild
Thomas E. Fairchild
Thomas Edward Fairchild , was a U.S. federal judge and former politician from Wisconsin. Before his death, he served as a Senior Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit....
on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the courts in the following districts:* Central District of Illinois* Northern District of Illinois...
from 1982 until 1984.
Professional career
From 1984 until 2010, Conley has served as a lawyer with the firm Foley & LardnerFoley & Lardner
Foley & Lardner LLP is an international law firm started in 1842. According to The American Lawyer, the firm ranked 39th on The American Lawyer's 2011 AmLaw 100 rankings of U.S. law firms, with $633,000,000 in gross revenue in 2010. Foley & Lardner has been in The American Lawyer's annual AmLaw 100...
in its Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
office. He was an associate from 1984 until 1992 and a partner from 1992 until 2010.
Nomination to federal district court
On October 29, 2009, President Barack ObamaBarack 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 Conley to serve on the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin sits in Madison at the Robert W. Kastenmeier United States Courthouse. It has two district judges and one full-time magistrate judge. The clerk of the court is a part-time magistrate judge...
. Conley would fill the vacancy created by Judge Barbara Brandriff Crabb
Barbara Brandriff Crabb
Barbara Brandriff Crabb is a United States federal judge nominated by President Jimmy Carter.-Early life and education:Born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Crabb received a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1960 and an LL.B. from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1962...
's announcement in March 2009 that she would take 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 December 10, 2009 the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary is a standing committee of the United States Senate, of the United States Congress. The Judiciary Committee, with 18 members, is charged with conducting hearings prior to the Senate votes on confirmation of federal judges nominated by the...
forwarded his nomination to the full 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...
. Conley was unanimously confirmed, 99-0 on March 4, 2010.