Robert L. Wilkins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert L. Wilkins
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Wilkins in 2013
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| Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit | |
| Assumed office January 15, 2014 |
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| Appointed by | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | David B. Sentelle |
| Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia | |
| In office December 27, 2010 – January 24, 2014 |
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| Appointed by | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | James Robertson |
| Succeeded by | Randolph Moss |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Robert Leon Wilkins
October 2, 1963 Muncie, Indiana, U.S. |
| Education | Rose–Hulman Institute of Technology (BS) Harvard University (JD) |
Robert Leon Wilkins was born on October 2, 1963. He is an American lawyer and a special kind of judge called a United States circuit judge. He works for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Before this, he was a judge for the United States District Court for the District of Columbia from 2010 to 2014.
In 2013, President Barack Obama wanted Robert Wilkins to become a judge for the D.C. Circuit. Two other judges, Patricia Millett and Nina Pillard, were also nominated. Getting these judges approved became a big discussion in the United States Senate. This led to a special rule change, sometimes called the "nuclear option", to help get votes on important people like judges.
Contents
Early Life and School
Robert Wilkins was born in 1963 in Muncie, Indiana. He grew up there with his mother. He went to Rose–Hulman Institute of Technology and studied chemical engineering. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1986, graduating with honors (cum laude).
After that, Wilkins went to Harvard Law School. He was an editor for a law magazine there. He finished law school in 1989 and earned his law degree, called a Juris Doctor.
Working as a Lawyer
After law school, Robert Wilkins worked for a judge named Earl Ben Gilliam from 1989 to 1990. This job is called a law clerk.
From 1990 to 2002, Wilkins worked for the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia. This office helps people who cannot afford a lawyer. He was in charge of special legal cases from 1996 to 2000.
Then, from 2002 to 2010, Wilkins worked at a private law firm in Washington, D.C. He was a partner there. He worked on cases about patents, which are legal rights for inventions, and other types of lawsuits.
Wilkins was also part of a special group chosen by President George W. Bush. This group helped create the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African American History and Culture. This museum tells the story of African Americans. Wilkins wrote a book about this experience and the museum's long history in 2016. The book is called Long Road to Hard Truth.
Wilkins v. Maryland State Police Case
In May 1992, Robert Wilkins was driving with his family when police stopped their car. The police said they were speeding. At that time, some police officers were told to look for certain groups of people, like Black men in nice cars, when stopping vehicles.
Wilkins believed this was unfair. He filed a lawsuit called Wilkins v. Maryland State Police. He eventually won a very important agreement against the state of Maryland. Because of this case, Maryland had to keep records of all traffic stops where police asked to search a car. This case helped people across the country understand the problem of racial profiling. This is when people are treated differently by police because of their race. The case also helped make the phrase "driving while black" well-known.
Becoming a Federal Judge
District Court Judge
In 2010, President Barack Obama chose Robert Wilkins to become a judge for the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. This was to fill a spot left by Judge James Robertson.
The United States Senate approved Wilkins on December 22, 2010. He officially started his job as a district court judge on December 27, 2010. He worked as a district court judge until January 24, 2014, when he became a judge for a higher court.
D.C. Circuit Judge
On June 4, 2013, President Obama nominated Wilkins again. This time, he was chosen to be a judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. This court is very important because it often handles cases involving the U.S. government.
Getting Wilkins approved for this higher court was a long process. Some senators tried to block his nomination using a tactic called a filibuster. A filibuster is when a senator tries to delay or prevent a vote on a bill or nomination.
However, on January 13, 2014, the Senate finally voted to approve him. He was confirmed by a vote of 55 to 43. He officially became a D.C. Circuit judge on January 15, 2014. His approval meant that the D.C. Circuit Court had all its judges for the first time in over 22 years.
See also
- Barack Obama judicial appointment controversies
- Barack Obama Supreme Court candidates
- List of African-American federal judges
- List of African-American jurists
