John T. Fowlkes Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John T. Fowlkes Jr.
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Fowlkes in 2022
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| Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee | |
| Assumed office September 1, 2022 |
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| Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee | |
| In office August 1, 2012 – September 1, 2022 |
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| Appointed by | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Bernice B. Donald |
| Succeeded by | vacant |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 20, 1951 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Education | Valparaiso University (BA) University of Denver (JD) |
John Thomas Fowlkes Jr. was born on April 20, 1951. He is a very important judge in the United States. He serves as a senior federal judge for the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee. This means he helps make decisions in legal cases that affect people in that area.
About Judge Fowlkes
John T. Fowlkes Jr. was born in Washington, D.C.. He went to Valparaiso University and earned a bachelor's degree in 1975. Later, he studied law at the University of Denver School of Law and became a lawyer in 1977.
Early Career in Law
Judge Fowlkes started his career helping people who couldn't afford a lawyer. He worked as an assistant public defender in Memphis, Tennessee. From 1979 to 1989, he worked as an assistant district attorney general. In this role, he represented the government in court cases.
He then became an assistant United States attorney from 1989 to 2002. This meant he worked for the federal government, handling legal matters. After that, he served as a chief administrative officer for the Shelby County government from 2002 to 2007. He was also a judge for the Shelby County Criminal Court from 2007 to 2012.
Becoming a Federal Judge
In 2011, President Barack Obama chose John Fowlkes to become a United States district judge. This is a very important position in the federal court system. He was nominated to fill a spot that became open when another judge, Bernice Bouie Donald, moved to a higher court.
The United States Senate had to approve his nomination. They held a hearing to learn more about him. On July 10, 2012, the Senate voted to confirm him, which means they agreed he should be a judge. He officially started his job as a federal judge on August 1, 2012.
Senior Status
On September 1, 2022, Judge Fowlkes took on "senior status." This means he can still hear cases, but he has a reduced workload. It allows him to continue serving the country while also having more flexibility.
See also
