Doris Pryor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Doris Pryor
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| Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit | |
| Assumed office December 9, 2022 |
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| Appointed by | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | David Hamilton |
| Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana | |
| In office March 1, 2018 – December 9, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Denise K. LaRue |
| Succeeded by | M. Kendra Klump |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Doris Lenea Clark
1977 (age 47–48) Hope, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Education | University of Central Arkansas (BS) Indiana University (JD) |
Doris Lenea Pryor, born in 1977, is an American lawyer. She serves as a United States circuit judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. She started this important role in 2022. Before that, she was a United States magistrate judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana from 2018 to 2022.
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Early Life and Education
Doris Pryor was born in Hope, Arkansas. She went to the University of Central Arkansas. In 1999, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree. She graduated with cum laude honors, which means "with praise" for her excellent grades.
After working for a construction company for a year, she decided to study law. She attended the Indiana University Maurer School of Law. While there, she was an editor for a law journal. She also won an award for her speaking skills in a practice court competition. She earned her law degree, called a Juris Doctor, in 2003.
A Career in Law
After finishing law school, Doris Pryor worked for judges. She was a law clerk for Chief Judge Lavenski Smith from 2003 to 2004. She also worked for Judge James Leon Holmes from 2004 to 2005. A law clerk helps judges with research and writing.
From 2005 to 2006, she was a Deputy Public Defender in Arkansas. A public defender is a lawyer who helps people who cannot afford a lawyer.
Serving as a Prosecutor
From 2006 to 2018, Pryor worked as an Assistant United States Attorney. This means she was a lawyer for the U.S. government. She worked in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Indiana. From 2014 to 2018, she was the National Security Chief for that office. This role involved handling cases related to national safety.
Pryor also helped start a special program called REACH. This program helps people who have been in prison. It guides and supports them to prevent them from returning to prison.
Becoming a Federal Judge
Doris Pryor has served as a judge in two different federal courts.
Magistrate Judge Role
In 2017, Doris Pryor was chosen to become a United States magistrate judge. She officially started this role on March 1, 2018. She served as a magistrate judge for the Southern District of Indiana until December 9, 2022. Magistrate judges handle many important tasks in federal courts.
Circuit Judge Appointment
On May 25, 2022, President Joe Biden nominated Doris Pryor to be a United States circuit judge. This is a very important position. She was nominated for the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. This court hears appeals from lower courts.
Senator Todd Young supported her nomination. On July 13, 2022, a hearing was held about her nomination. The United States Senate voted to confirm her on December 5, 2022. The vote was 60 to 31 in her favor.
Pryor made history with this appointment. She became the first African American woman from Indiana to serve on the 7th Circuit Court. She received her official judicial commission on December 9, 2022. She was also the ninth African American woman confirmed as a U.S. circuit judge nominated by President Biden.
See also
