Nancy Gbana Abudu

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Nancy Gbana Abudu
Image of Nancy Gbana Abudu

Nonpartisan

United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit
Tenure

2023 - Present

Years in position

0

Education

Bachelor's

Columbia University, 1996

Law

Tulane University School of Law, 1999

Personal
Birthplace
Alexandria, Va.


Nancy Gbana Abudu is a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. She was initially nominated to the court by President Joe Biden (D) on January 10, 2022.[1][2] Abudu's nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2023.[3] The president renominated Abudu on the same day.[4] Abudu was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 18, 2023, by a vote of 49-47.[5][4] To see a full list of judges appointed by Joe Biden, click here.

The United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit is one of 13 U.S. courts of appeal. They are the intermediate appellate courts of the United States federal courts. To learn more about the 11th Circuit, click here.

Abudu's career experience includes working as the deputy legal director and interim director for strategic litigation at the Southern Poverty Law Center.[1]

Judicial nominations and appointments

Possible Joe Biden nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court

On January 27, 2022, United States Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer officially announced he would retire at the start of the court's summer recess, which typically took place in late June or early July.[6][7] NBC News had previously reported the retirement on January 26.[8] On February 15, Biden announced he would nominate Ketanji Brown Jackson.[9]

President Joe Biden (D) did not announce a list of nominees he was considering. During the retirement announcement, Biden said that: "The person I will nominate will be someone of extraordinary qualifications, character, experience and integrity. And that person will be the first Black woman ever nominated to the United States Supreme Court."[10]

Abudu was mentioned by two or more media outlets as a possible nominee to fill Breyer's seat on the court.[11][12] Click here to read more about the vacancy and nomination process.

United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit (2023-present)

See also: Federal judges nominated by Joe Biden

On January 10, 2022, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Abudu to the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.[2] Abudu received commission on May 26, 2023.[13][4] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.

Nomination Tracker
Fedbadgesmall.png
Nominee Information
Name: Nancy Gbana Abudu
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit
Progress
Confirmed 493 days after nomination.
ApprovedANominated: January 10, 2022
ApprovedAABA Rating: Substantial majority well qualified/Minority qualified
Questionnaire: Questionnaire
ApprovedAHearing: April 27, 2022
QFRs: QFRs (Hover over QFRs to read more)
ApprovedAReported: May 26, 2022 (initial nomination) 
ApprovedAConfirmed: May 18, 2023
ApprovedAVote: 49-47


Confirmation vote

The U.S. Senate confirmed Abudu by a vote of 49-47 on May 18, 2023.[14] To see a full breakdown of the vote on the official U.S. Senate website, here.

Nancy Gbana Abudu confirmation vote (May 18, 2023)
Party Yea Nay No vote
Electiondot.png Democratic 47 4 0
Ends.png Republican 0 43 3
Grey.png Independent 2 0 1
Total 49 47 4

Senate Judiciary Committee hearing

The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on Abudu's nomination on April 27, 2022. On May 26, 2022, the committee cast a tie vote to report Abudu to the full United States Senate for a confirmation vote. As a result, Abudu was not reported favorably to the full Senate.[2] In a committee hearing on February 9, 2023, Abudu was reported to the full Senate, after a 11-10 committee vote.[5]

Nomination

On December 23, 2021, President Joe Biden (D) announced his intent to nominate Abudu to the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.[1] The president officially nominated Abudu on January 10, 2022. She ​was nominated to replace Judge Beverly Martin, who retired from the court on September 30, 2021.[2]

The American Bar Association rated Abudu well qualified by a substantial majority and qualified by a minority.[15] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.

Abudu's nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2023.[16] The president renominated Abudu on the same day.[4]

Biography

Early life and education

Abudu was born in 1974 in Alexandria, Virginia. She earned a B.A. from Columbia University in 1996 and a J.D. from Tulane University School of Law in 1999.[17]

Professional career

  • 2023-present: Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit
  • 2019-2023: Deputy legal director and interim director for strategic litigation, Southern Poverty Law Center
  • 2013-2018: Legal director, American Civil Liberties Union of Florida
  • 2005-2014: American Civil Liberties Union Voting Rights Project
    • 2009-2014: Senior staff counsel
    • 2005-2009: Staff attorney
  • 2005: Contract attorney, The Partners Group
  • 2002-2004: Staff attorney, United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit
  • 1999-2001: Associate, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP[17]

Awards and associations

Awards

  • 2021: Pillar of the Community Award, Rugby Hills Neighborhood Association
  • 2016:
    • Community Service Award, Council on American Islamic Relations
    • Agent of Change Award, Probation Station
  • 2008: Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition, Representative Hank Johnson, Congressman for Georgia's Fourth District
  • 2001: Legal Aid Society Outstanding Pro Bono Representation Award, Legal Aid Society of New York (Harlem Office)
  • 1999: Excellence for Future Award, The Center for Computer Assisted Legal Instruction[17]

Associations

  • American Bar Association
  • American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia
  • Association of Black Women Attorneys
  • Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys
  • Georgia Citizens Coalition on Hunger
  • Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association
  • National Voting Rights Institute
  • Re-Entry Connection, Inc.[17]

About the court

The Eleventh Circuit has appellate jurisdiction over cases heard in one of its subsidiary districts. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law. Appeals of rulings by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals are petitioned to the Supreme Court of the United States. Justice Clarence Thomas is the circuit justice for the Eleventh Circuit.

The United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit has appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:

To read opinions published by this court, click here.

The federal nomination process

Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:

  • The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
  • The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
  • The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.
  • As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.
  • After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.
  • If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
  • If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.
  • The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.
  • If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
  • If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The White House, "President Biden Names Twelfth Round of Judicial Nominees," December 23, 2021
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Congress.gov, "PN1670 — Nancy G. Abudu — The Judiciary," accessed January 11, 2022
  3. ↑ Under Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate, pending nominations are returned to the president if the Senate adjourns sine die or recesses for more than 30 days.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Congress.gov, "PN95 — Nancy G. Abudu — The Judiciary," accessed January 4, 2023
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Committee on the Judiciary, "Results of Executive Business Meeting – February 9, 2023," accessed February 9, 2023
  6. ↑ United States Supreme Court, "Letter to President," January 27, 2022
  7. ↑ YouTube, "President Biden Delivers Remarks on the Retirement of Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer," January 27, 2022
  8. ↑ NBC News, "Justice Stephen Breyer to retire from Supreme Court, paving way for Biden appointment," January 26, 2022
  9. ↑ White House, "President Biden Nominates Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to Serve as Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court," February 25, 2022
  10. ↑ YouTube, "President Biden Delivers Remarks on the Retirement of Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer," January 27, 2022
  11. ↑ CBS News, "Biden weighing more than a dozen candidates for Supreme Court vacancy," January 31, 2022
  12. ↑ USA Today, "Biden considers Judge J. Michelle Childs and may cast wider net for Supreme Court vacancy," January 29, 2022
  13. ↑ [https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/abudu-nancy-gbana Federal Judicial Center, "Abudu, Nancy Gbana ," accessed May 30, 2023]
  14. ↑ United States Senate, "Roll Call Vote 118th Congress - 1st Session," accessed May 22, 2023
  15. ↑ American Bar Association, "Ratings of Article III and Article IV judicial nominees," accessed April 27, 2022
  16. ↑ Under Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate, pending nominations are returned to the president if the Senate adjourns sine die or recesses for more than 30 days.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 Senate Judiciary Committee, "Questionnaire for judicial nominees," accessed May 19, 2022

Political offices
Preceded by
- 		United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit
2023-Present		 Succeeded by
-

Georgia courts

Federal courts:

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Middle District of Georgia, Northern District of Georgia, Southern District of Georgia • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Middle District of Georgia, Northern District of Georgia, Southern District of Georgia

State courts:

Georgia Supreme Court • Georgia Court of Appeals • Georgia Superior Courts • Georgia State Courts • Georgia Business Court • Georgia Juvenile Courts • Georgia Probate Courts • Georgia Magistrate Courts • Georgia Municipal Courts

State resources:

Courts in Georgia • Georgia judicial elections • Judicial selection in Georgia


Retrieved from "https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Nancy_Gbana_Abudu&oldid=9227534"