Lydia Griggsby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lydia Griggsby
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![]() Griggsby in 2017
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Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland | |
Assumed office July 20, 2021 |
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Appointed by | Joe Biden |
Preceded by | Catherine C. Blake |
Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims | |
In office December 5, 2014 – July 23, 2021 |
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Appointed by | Barack Obama |
Preceded by | Francis Allegra |
Succeeded by | Philip Hadji |
Personal details | |
Born |
Lydia Kay Griggsby
January 16, 1968 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
Education | University of Pennsylvania (BA) Georgetown University (JD) |
Lydia Kay Griggsby, born on January 16, 1968, is an important judge in the United States. She works as a federal judge for the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. This court handles many different types of legal cases.
Before this, she was a judge for the United States Court of Federal Claims. This court deals with money claims against the U.S. government. She also worked as a top lawyer for a special committee in the United States Senate.
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Lydia Griggsby's Early Life and Education
Lydia Griggsby was born in Baltimore, Maryland. She went to college at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1990, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree there.
After college, she studied law. She earned her law degree, called a Juris Doctor, in 1993. She received this degree from the Georgetown University Law Center.
Lydia Griggsby's Legal Career
After finishing law school, Lydia Griggsby started her career. From 1993 to 1995, she worked at a law firm called DLA Piper LLP. A law firm is a business where lawyers work together.
Working for the U.S. Government
Griggsby then began working for the United States government. From 1995 to 1998, she was a trial attorney. She worked in the Civil Division of the United States Department of Justice. This department helps enforce U.S. laws.
From 1998 to 2004, she was an Assistant United States Attorney. She worked in Washington, D.C.. In this role, she represented the U.S. government in court cases.
Work in the U.S. Senate
Lydia Griggsby also worked for the United States Senate. From 2004 to 2005, she was Counsel for the United States Senate Select Committee on Ethics. This committee helps make sure senators follow rules.
From 2004 to 2008, she was Privacy Counsel for the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. This committee deals with laws about privacy and information. She later became Chief Counsel for Privacy and Information Policy. She worked for Senator Patrick Leahy on this committee until 2014.
Lydia Griggsby's Federal Judicial Service
Lydia Griggsby has served as a judge in two different federal courts. These courts are part of the U.S. justice system.
Judge for the U.S. Court of Federal Claims
On April 10, 2014, President Barack Obama chose Lydia Griggsby to be a judge. She was nominated for the United States Court of Federal Claims. This court hears cases where people or companies sue the U.S. government for money.
The United States Senate Judiciary Committee held a meeting about her nomination. This happened on June 4, 2014. On June 12, 2014, the committee approved her nomination.
On December 4, 2014, the full Senate voted to confirm her. This means they agreed she should be a judge. She officially became a judge on December 5, 2014. She took an oath to do her job well on December 15, 2014. She served on this court until July 23, 2021.
Judge for the U.S. District Court for Maryland
On March 30, 2021, President Joe Biden announced his plan. He wanted to nominate Griggsby to be a federal judge. This time, it was for the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.
Her nomination was sent to the Senate on April 19, 2021. The Senate Judiciary Committee held another hearing on May 12, 2021. On June 10, 2021, the committee approved her nomination.
The full United States Senate voted on her nomination on June 16, 2021. She was confirmed by a vote of 59 to 39. She received her official judicial commission on July 20, 2021. She was sworn in as a judge on July 23, 2021.
Lydia Griggsby made history with this new role. She is the first woman of color to serve as a judge on the district court in Maryland.