Dana Douglas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dana Douglas
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| Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit | |
| Assumed office December 16, 2022 |
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| Appointed by | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | James L. Dennis |
| Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana | |
| In office January 6, 2019 – December 16, 2022 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Dana Marie Douglas
1975 (age 49–50) New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Education | Miami University (BA) Loyola University New Orleans (JD) |
Dana Marie Douglas (born in 1975) is an important American lawyer and judge. She serves as a United States circuit judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. This is a very high-level court that hears appeals from lower courts. Before this, she was a United States magistrate judge in Louisiana from 2019 to 2022.
Contents
Becoming a Judge: Dana Douglas's Journey
Early Life and Education
Dana Douglas grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana. She went to St. Mary's Academy for high school. After that, she attended Miami University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1997.
She then decided to study law. She went to Loyola University New Orleans and received her law degree, called a Juris Doctor (JD), in 2000. This degree is needed to become a lawyer.
Her Career as a Lawyer
After law school, Dana Douglas worked as a law clerk for Judge Ivan L. R. Lemelle. A law clerk helps a judge with research and writing. This job helps new lawyers learn how courts work.
From 2003 to 2013, she was part of the New Orleans Civil Service Commission. This group makes sure that public workers, like police officers, are treated fairly. They also make sure these workers follow the rules. Douglas helped make decisions about how public workers should act.
For 17 years, she was a partner at a law firm called Liskow & Lewis in New Orleans. As a partner, she was one of the main lawyers who owned and ran the firm. Her firm often worked on cases related to the energy and oil industries.
Douglas also helped lead important legal groups. She was president of the New Orleans Bar Association. This is a group for lawyers in the city. She also led the Greater New Orleans Louis A. Martinet Society. She often volunteered at legal clinics, which offer free legal help to people who need it.
Serving as a Federal Judge
Becoming a Magistrate Judge
Dana Douglas became a United States magistrate judge on January 6, 2019. She worked at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Magistrate judges handle many different tasks in the federal court system. They help judges prepare cases for trial.
Appointed to the Appeals Court
On June 15, 2022, President Joe Biden chose Dana Douglas to be a United States circuit judge. This is a very important role. She was nominated for a spot on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. This court hears cases from Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.
The U.S. Senate had to approve her nomination. A hearing was held where senators asked her questions. On December 13, 2022, the United States Senate voted to confirm her. She officially became a judge on December 16, 2022.
Dana Douglas made history when she became a judge on the Fifth Circuit. She is the first Black woman to serve on this important court.
Important Cases
As a judge on the Fifth Circuit, Dana Douglas has been involved in significant cases. One notable case was United States vs. Abbott in 2023. This case was about a "floating barrier" that Texas had put in the Rio Grande river. The barrier was meant to stop illegal immigration.
Judge Douglas wrote the main decision for the court, saying that Texas needed to remove the barrier. However, later, the full Fifth Circuit court reviewed the case again. They decided to reverse her decision. Judge Douglas then wrote a long paper explaining why she disagreed with their new decision.
See also
