Dee Benson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dee Benson
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Utah
In office January 1, 2014 – November 30, 2020
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Utah
In office 1999–2006
Preceded by	David Sam
Succeeded by	Tena Campbell
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Utah
In office September 16, 1991 – January 1, 2014
Appointed by	George H. W. Bush
Preceded by	Seat established by 104 Stat. 5089
Succeeded by	Jill Parrish
Personal details
Born	Dee Vance Benson (1948-08-25)August 25, 1948 Sandy, Utah
Died	November 30, 2020(2020-11-30) (aged 72) Sandy, Utah
Education	Brigham Young University (BA, JD)

Dee Vance Benson (August 25, 1948 – November 30, 2020) was an important American judge. He served as a federal judge and later as the chief judge for the United States District Court for the District of Utah. Before becoming a judge, he even played professional soccer for a short time. President George H. W. Bush chose him to be a judge in 1991. He was confirmed by the United States Senate and started his work on September 16, 1991. Later, he was appointed to a special court called the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.

Who Was Dee Benson?

Dee Vance Benson was born in Sandy, Utah. He grew up there and went to Jordan High School. He earned a bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University (BYU) in 1973. In 1976, he received his law degree from BYU's J. Reuben Clark Law School. That same year, he also played professional soccer for the Utah Golden Spikers.

From 1976 to 1984, Benson worked as a lawyer. He then held several important government jobs in Washington, D.C. These included working for the U.S. Senate and as a U.S. Attorney for Utah. In 1991, he became a federal judge. He served as chief judge from 1999 to 2006. He passed away in 2020 due to illness.

Early Life and Education

Dee Benson was born on August 25, 1948, in Sandy, Utah. He had an identical twin brother named Lee Benson. After high school, he served a mission in Sweden.

He then attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. In 1973, he earned his bachelor's degree in Physical Education. He also studied Political Science. That same year, he joined the first class at BYU's J. Reuben Clark Law School. He was the editor for the BYU Law Review. He received his law degree in 1976.

From Soccer Player to Lawyer

While studying law, Benson also played professional soccer. He was part of the Utah Golden Spikers in the American Soccer League. He later said that playing professionally made him realize he wouldn't have a long career in soccer. Because he loved soccer and teaching, he started and coached the first soccer team at Hillcrest High School in Midvale, Utah.

After law school, Benson worked at law firms in Salt Lake City. He even took a break to work for a construction company in Saudi Arabia. There, he reviewed contracts and handled lawsuits.

Working for the Government

From 1984 to 1989, Benson worked in various government roles in Washington, D.C..

• He was a lawyer for the U.S. Senate Committee on the Constitution from 1984 to 1986.
• He served as Chief of Staff for Senator Orrin Hatch from 1986 to 1988.
• In 1987, he was a lawyer for the Iran-Contra investigation.
• He also worked as an Associate Deputy U.S. Attorney General from 1988 to 1989.

In 1989, Benson was chosen to be the United States Attorney for the District of Utah. This meant he was the top federal prosecutor for Utah. He was recommended by Senator Orrin Hatch. President George H. W. Bush officially nominated him, and the United States Senate confirmed him. He held this position until 1991.

Becoming a Federal Judge

In May 1991, President George H. W. Bush nominated Dee Benson to be a federal judge. This was a new judge position created by Congress for Utah. The Senate confirmed his nomination, and he began his work as a judge on September 16, 1991. He served as the chief judge of the District Court from 1999 to 2007.

In 2004, Judge Benson was appointed to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court in Washington, D.C. This is a special court that deals with national security cases. He traveled to Washington every 10 weeks for court sessions. He served on this court until his seven-year term ended in 2011.

Mike Lee, who is now a U.S. Senator from Utah, worked as a law clerk for Judge Benson in 1997.

Important Cases and Decisions

Judge Benson handled many important cases during his time on the bench. Here are a few examples:

Impact Energy Resources vs. Ken Salazar

This case involved three energy companies and some Utah counties. They sued the Interior Secretary, Ken Salazar, because he canceled 77 gas and oil drilling leases. Judge Benson ruled in favor of Salazar. He said the lawsuit was filed too late, even though he agreed that the Secretary had gone beyond his authority in canceling the leases.

The United States of America vs. Tim DeChristopher

Tim DeChristopher was accused of bidding on federal energy leases without planning to pay for them. He said he did this as an act of civil disobedience to protest. After a trial, DeChristopher was found guilty. Judge Benson sentenced him to two years in prison and a fine.

The Salt Lake Tribune vs. Elaine Chao

Several Utah news organizations sued the U.S. Secretary of Labor. They wanted access to documents about a mine collapse that killed miners and rescue workers. Judge Benson dismissed their request. He explained that it was not the court's job to create new laws, but only to interpret existing ones. He said that if such information should be public, Congress needed to pass a law about it.

Summum vs. Duchesne City

A religious group called Summum sued the city of Pleasant Grove, Utah. They wanted to put up a monument with their beliefs next to an existing monument of the Ten Commandments. Judge Benson ruled against Summum, saying their free speech rights were not violated. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States. The Supreme Court agreed with the city, ruling that monuments like these are considered government speech and do not violate free speech rights.

Caldera vs. Microsoft

This case was similar to a larger anti-trust case against Microsoft. A Utah company, Caldera, Inc., sued Microsoft. Caldera claimed that Microsoft designed its Windows 95 software to only work well with Microsoft's own MS-DOS, which unfairly hurt other companies like Caldera. Judge Benson did not dismiss the case, and it was eventually settled between the two companies.

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  Dee Benson

See also

In Spanish: Dee Benson para niños