Joseph A. Greenaway Jr. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joseph A. Greenaway Jr.
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
In office February 12, 2010 – June 15, 2023
Appointed by	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Samuel Alito
Succeeded by	vacant
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
In office July 26, 1996 – February 24, 2010
Appointed by	Bill Clinton
Preceded by	John F. Gerry
Succeeded by	Claire C. Cecchi
Personal details
Born	(1957-11-16) November 16, 1957 (age 67) London, United Kingdom
Spouse	Valerie Purdie Greenaway
Education	Columbia University (BA) Harvard University (JD)

Joseph Anthony Greenaway Jr. (born November 16, 1957) is an American lawyer. He served as a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit from 2010 to 2023. Before that, he was a judge on the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey from 1996 to 2010. He was even mentioned as a possible candidate for the Supreme Court by President Barack Obama. Today, he works as a partner at the law firm Arnold & Porter.

Joseph Greenaway's Early Life and Education

Joseph Greenaway Jr. was born in London, England, on November 16, 1957. His parents were from the West Indies. When he was two years old, his family moved to the United States. His father worked as a carpenter, and his mother was a nurse.

Greenaway attended the Bronx High School of Science and graduated in 1974. He was also on the school's varsity baseball team. He then went to Columbia University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1978. After that, he studied law at Harvard Law School, getting his law degree (called a Juris Doctor) in 1981. From 1982 to 1983, he worked as a law clerk for Judge Vincent Lyons Broderick.

A Career in Law

Joseph Greenaway started his legal career in New York City. He worked in private law firms from 1981 to 1985. Later, from 1990 to 1996, he worked as an in-house lawyer for Johnson & Johnson in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Besides working as a lawyer and judge, Greenaway also taught law. He was a professor at Rutgers School of Law from 2002 to 2006. He also teaches at Cardozo School of Law, where he teaches about trial practice and the Supreme Court. He teaches a similar course at Columbia University. Since 2018, he has been a lecturer on law at Harvard Law School.

Serving as a Federal Judge

Joseph Greenaway has served as a judge in two different federal courts.

District Court Service

President Bill Clinton chose Joseph Greenaway to be a judge for the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. This is a trial court where cases are first heard. He was nominated on November 27, 1995. The United States Senate approved his nomination on July 16, 1996. He officially became a judge on July 26, 1996. He served in this role until February 24, 2010, when he moved to a higher court.

Court of Appeals Service

On June 19, 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Greenaway to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. This court reviews decisions made by the district courts. The seat became open when Judge Samuel Alito was chosen to join the Supreme Court of the United States. The Senate voted 84–0 to confirm Greenaway on February 9, 2010. He received his official commission on February 12, 2010. He retired from being a judge on June 15, 2023. In September 2023, he joined the law firm Arnold & Porter.

Personal Life

Joseph Greenaway is married to Valerie Purdie Greenaway, who is a professor at Columbia University. He also serves as a trustee for Columbia University.

See also

• Barack Obama Supreme Court candidates
• List of African-American federal judges
• List of African-American jurists

Sources

• Joseph A. Greenaway Jr. at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
• Joseph A. Greenaway Jr. at Ballotpedia