R. Guy Cole Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
R. Guy Cole Jr.
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Cole in 2017
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| Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit | |
| Assumed office January 9, 2023 |
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| Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit | |
| In office August 15, 2014 – May 1, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Alice M. Batchelder |
| Succeeded by | Jeffrey Sutton |
| Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit | |
| In office December 26, 1995 – January 9, 2023 |
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| Appointed by | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Nathaniel R. Jones |
| Succeeded by | Rachel Bloomekatz |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ransey Guy Cole Jr.
May 23, 1951 Birmingham, Alabama |
| Education | Tufts University (BA) Yale Law School (JD) |
Ransey Guy Cole Jr. (born May 23, 1951) is an important judge in the United States. He works as a senior judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. This is a high court that reviews decisions from other courts.
Contents
Early Life and School Days
Ransey Guy Cole Jr. was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on May 23, 1951. He went to school at Cheshire Academy in Connecticut.
After high school, he studied at Tufts University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1972. A BA is a common first degree from a university. He then went to Yale Law School and earned his Juris Doctor (JD) degree in 1975. A JD is the degree needed to become a lawyer.
Becoming a Lawyer and Judge
After finishing law school, Cole started working as a lawyer in a private firm called Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease in Columbus, Ohio. He worked there from 1975 to 1978. When he joined, he was only the second African-American lawyer at the firm. In 1983, he made history by becoming the first African-American partner at the firm. A partner is a senior lawyer who helps own and manage the firm.
From 1978 to 1980, he worked for the United States Department of Justice. He was a trial attorney, which means he represented the government in court cases.
He returned to private practice at Vorys Sater in Columbus from 1980 to 1986. Later, he became a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern District of Ohio. He held this position from 1987 to 1993. A bankruptcy judge helps people and companies who are having serious money problems.
Cole went back to private law practice one more time from 1993 until 1995.
Serving as a Federal Judge
In 1995, President Bill Clinton chose Cole to be a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. This court hears appeals from federal courts in Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
Even though a different political party controlled the United States Senate at the time, everyone agreed that Cole was a good choice. The Senate committee that reviews judges voted for him without anyone disagreeing. The full Senate then confirmed him by a voice vote on December 22, 1995. This means everyone agreed, and no formal vote count was needed. He officially started his job on December 26, 1995.
Cole served as the Chief Judge of the Sixth Circuit from August 15, 2014, to May 1, 2021. The Chief Judge helps manage the court. On January 9, 2023, he became a "senior status" judge. This means he still works as a judge but with a reduced workload, allowing him to continue serving while making room for a new judge.
Important Decisions
As a judge, Cole has been involved in many important cases. Sometimes, judges on a panel might not fully agree on a decision. For example, in one case on January 5, 2022, Cole disagreed with part of a decision made by two other judges. This shows how judges can have different views on complex legal issues.
See also
