Henry H. Kennedy Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henry Harold Kennedy Jr.
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| Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia | |
| Assumed office November 18, 2011 |
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| Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia | |
| In office September 18, 1997 – November 18, 2011 |
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| Appointed by | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Joyce Hens Green |
| Succeeded by | Ketanji Brown Jackson |
| Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia | |
| In office 1979–1997 |
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| Appointed by | Jimmy Carter |
| Preceded by | Joyce Hens Green |
| Succeeded by | Melvin R. Wright |
| Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia | |
| In office 1976–1979 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Henry Harold Kennedy Jr.
February 22, 1948 Columbia, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Education | Princeton University (BA) Harvard University (JD) |
Henry Harold Kennedy Jr. (born February 22, 1948) is a retired American judge. He served for many years as a judge in Washington, D.C. He was a federal judge for the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. This is a very important court in the U.S. capital.
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Early Life and Education
Henry Harold Kennedy Jr. was born on February 22, 1948, in Columbia, South Carolina. He went to Princeton University, a famous school. In 1970, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. This is often called a BA. He studied public and international affairs there.
After Princeton, he went to Harvard Law School. He earned his law degree, called a J.D., in 1973.
Starting His Legal Career
After finishing law school, Henry Kennedy Jr. began working. He joined a law firm in Washington, D.C.. Law firms are businesses where lawyers work together.
From 1973 to 1976, he worked for the government. He was an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia. This means he helped represent the U.S. government in court cases.
Becoming a Judge
In 1976, Henry Kennedy Jr. became a United States Magistrate. He served in this role for the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Magistrates help federal judges with their work.
Then, in December 1979, he became an Associate Judge. This was for the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. He served on this court for many years, until 1997.
Serving as a Federal Judge
In 1997, President Bill Clinton chose Henry Kennedy Jr. for a big job. He nominated him to be a judge on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. This is a very important federal court.
The United States Senate approved his nomination. This happened on September 4, 1997. He officially became a judge on September 18, 1997.
On November 18, 2011, Judge Kennedy changed his status. He became a Senior Judge. This means he can work a reduced schedule. He is now in inactive senior status, which means he is retired from active duty.
Important Cases and Decisions
During his time as a judge, Henry Kennedy Jr. made rulings in several important cases.
Preserving Government Emails
In November 2007, Judge Kennedy made a key decision. He ordered the Bush White House to save its emails. This was important for keeping government records.
Guantanamo Bay Detainees
On January 9, 2008, Judge Kennedy heard a request. Terror suspects held at Guantanamo Bay wanted a court hearing. They were concerned about the destruction of interrogation tapes by the CIA. Judge Kennedy did not grant their request for a hearing.
Later, on August 16, 2010, he ruled in another Guantanamo case. He said that a detainee named Adnan Farhan Abd Al Latif could not be held. Judge Kennedy found that the evidence against him was not strong enough. This ruling was later changed by a higher court.
Protecting Legislative Discussions
On June 24, 2011, Judge Kennedy made a ruling about the Speech or Debate Clause. This part of the U.S. Constitution protects discussions by lawmakers. His ruling helped decide when lawsuits against the legislative branch could go forward. It balanced protecting lawmakers' speech with preventing unfair employment actions.
See also
