Abdul K. Kallon facts for kids

Abdul Karim Kallon, born on April 5, 1969, is an American lawyer. He used to be a judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. This is a special court where important legal cases are decided. He was also considered to become a judge for an even higher court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

Growing Up and School

Abdul Kallon was born in Freetown, Sierra Leone. He moved to the United States and went to Dartmouth College. In 1990, he earned a degree called an Artium Baccalaureus. After college, he studied law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He earned his law degree, called a Juris Doctor, in 1993. While there, he helped edit a law journal. Right after law school, from 1993 to 1994, Mr. Kallon worked for Judge U. W. Clemon. He was a "law clerk," which means he helped the judge with research and writing. Later, in 2020, he went back to school. He earned another law degree, a Master of Laws, from Duke Law School.

His Career as a Lawyer

From 1994 until he became a judge, Abdul Kallon worked as a lawyer in Birmingham, Alabama. He worked for a law firm called Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP. His main job was practicing "labor and employment law." This means he helped businesses and workers with legal issues related to jobs.

Becoming a Federal Judge

On July 31, 2009, President Barack Obama chose Abdul Kallon to become a judge. He was nominated for a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. This was the same seat that his former boss, Judge Clemon, had left when he retired. The United States Senate needed to approve his nomination. On November 21, 2009, the Senate agreed to his appointment. This was done by "unanimous consent," meaning everyone agreed. He officially started his job as a judge on January 4, 2010.

On February 11, 2016, President Obama nominated Judge Kallon again. This time, it was for an even higher court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. However, his nomination for this higher court ended on January 3, 2017.

On April 6, 2022, Judge Kallon announced he would leave his position as a federal judge. His last day was August 31, 2022. After leaving the court, he joined a law firm called Perkins Coie. He became a "partner" there, which is a senior position in a law firm.

See Also

• Barack Obama judicial appointment controversies
• List of African-American federal judges
• List of African-American jurists