Raymond Kethledge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Raymond Kethledge
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Kethledge c. 2010
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| Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit | |
| Assumed office July 7, 2008 |
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| Appointed by | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | James L. Ryan |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Raymond Michael Kethledge
December 11, 1966 Summit, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Jessica Levinson
(m. 1993) |
| Relations | Raymond W. Ketchledge (grandfather) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | University of Michigan (BA, JD) |
Raymond Michael Kethledge, born on December 11, 1966, is a United States circuit judge. He serves on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. President George W. Bush appointed him to this important role in 2008. Judge Kethledge was also considered by President Donald Trump as a possible nominee for the Supreme Court of the United States in 2016.
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Early Life and Education
Raymond Kethledge was born in Summit, New Jersey. His grandfather, Raymond W. Ketchledge, was an engineer who invented a special torpedo used during World War II.
Kethledge grew up in Michigan and has lived there most of his life. He went to Birmingham Groves High School. After high school, he attended the University of Michigan. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1989. He then continued his studies at the University of Michigan Law School, graduating in 1993. He was one of the top students in his class.
Career Path
After law school, Raymond Kethledge worked for a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit from 1994 to 1995. This job is called a clerkship. He then worked for Michigan Senator Spencer Abraham for two years.
Later, Kethledge had another clerkship, this time for Justice Anthony Kennedy at the Supreme Court of the United States from 1997 to 1998. After his time at the Supreme Court, he returned to Michigan. He joined a law firm and became a partner. He also worked as a lawyer for Ford Motor Company. In 2003, he helped start his own law firm in Troy, Michigan.
Besides his work as a judge, Kethledge has taught law courses at the University of Michigan Law School. He teaches about good legal writing and federal courts.
Becoming a Federal Judge
President George W. Bush first nominated Raymond Kethledge to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit on June 28, 2006. This court hears appeals from federal district courts in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. His nomination faced some delays in the Senate.
President Bush nominated him again on March 19, 2007. After a deal was made with Michigan's senators, Kethledge's nomination moved forward. He was confirmed by the Senate on June 24, 2008. He officially became a judge on July 7, 2008.
Important Decisions and Views
Judge Kethledge is known for his clear writing in legal opinions. The Wall Street Journal praised his ruling in a case called EEOC v. Kaplan in 2014. They called it the "Opinion of the Year." In another case, In re United States, he strongly criticized the IRS for not cooperating.
He is also known for his belief in "originalism." This means he tries to understand the Constitution and its laws based on how they were understood when they were first written. He believes judges should stick to the original meaning of the law.
In May 2016, Judge Kethledge was on President Donald Trump's list of possible Supreme Court justices. In July 2018, he was interviewed for a Supreme Court opening.
Book
In 2017, Judge Kethledge co-wrote a book with Michael S. Erwin. The book is called Lead Yourself First: Inspiring Leadership Through Solitude. It talks about how leaders can benefit from spending time alone to think clearly.
The book shares stories of famous leaders like General James Mattis, Pope John Paul II, and Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.. It explains how these leaders used solitude to help them stick to their core beliefs. The book has received good reviews from publications like The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal.
Notable Cases
Judge Kethledge has written opinions in many important cases. Here are a few examples:
- In Michigan v. Bay Mills Indian Community (2012), he wrote that a Native American tribe's special legal protection prevented Michigan from stopping their casino project. The Supreme Court later agreed with this decision.
- In Bailey v. Callaghan (2013), he wrote that a Michigan law was constitutional. This law made it illegal for public schools to use their resources to collect union dues. He explained that the law did not stop unions from speaking freely.
- In In re United States (2016), he ordered the IRS to release documents in a case where conservative groups claimed they were unfairly targeted. He emphasized that the IRS must follow all laws.
- In United States v. Carpenter (2016), he wrote for the court that police did not need a warrant to get cell phone location data. However, the Supreme Court later disagreed with this ruling.
Personal Life
Raymond Kethledge is married to Jessica Levinson Kethledge. They have a son and a daughter. He is an evangelical Protestant Christian.
When he is in northern Michigan, Judge Kethledge sometimes works from an office he set up in a family barn. It has a wood stove and a pine desk. He has also spoken about hunting with his son in the Michigan wilderness.
Affiliations
In 2013, Kethledge was elected to the American Law Institute. He helps advise a group that works on consumer contracts law.
See also
- List of law clerks of the Supreme Court of the United States (Seat 1)
- Donald Trump Supreme Court candidates
