Roger Gregory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Roger Gregory
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Gregory in 2012
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| Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit | |
| In office July 8, 2016 – July 8, 2023 |
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| Preceded by | William Byrd Traxler Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Albert Diaz |
| Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit | |
| Assumed office December 27, 2000 |
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| Appointed by | Bill Clinton (recess) George W. Bush (commission) |
| Preceded by | Seat established by 104 Stat. 5089 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 17, 1953 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Education | Virginia State University (BA) University of Michigan (JD) |
Roger Lee Gregory (born July 17, 1953) is an American lawyer and judge. He serves as a United States circuit judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. This court hears appeals from federal courts in several states.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Roger Gregory was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He grew up in Petersburg, Virginia. He went to Virginia State University, graduating in 1975. He then studied law at the University of Michigan Law School, finishing in 1978.
After law school, he worked as a lawyer for several years. In 1982, he helped start a law firm called Wilder & Gregory in Richmond, Virginia. He worked there for many years.
Becoming a Federal Judge
In 2000, President Bill Clinton chose Roger Gregory to be a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. This court is very important. It reviews decisions made by lower courts.
The United States Senate must approve judges. When the Senate did not act quickly, President Clinton used a special power. He appointed Gregory as a judge while Congress was not in session. This is called a recess appointment.
Later, in 2001, President George W. Bush also nominated Gregory for the same position. The Senate then voted to approve him. Roger Gregory became the first African-American judge to serve on the Fourth Circuit. He started his work as a judge on July 25, 2001.
Chief Judge Role
On July 8, 2016, Judge Gregory became the chief judge of the Fourth Circuit. He held this important leadership role for seven years. His term as chief judge ended on July 8, 2023.
Important Decisions
Judge Gregory has been part of many important court decisions. Here are a few examples:
Marriage Equality
In 2014, Judge Gregory joined a decision in a case called Bostic v. Schaefer. The court ruled that Virginia's ban on same-sex marriage was against the Constitution. This decision helped make same-sex marriage legal in Virginia. It also affected other states in the Fourth Circuit.
Travel Ban Case
In 2017, Judge Gregory wrote the main opinion for the court in a case called Int'l Refugee Assistance Project v. Trump. The court decided to block a "travel ban" ordered by the President. This ban would have stopped people from certain countries from entering the U.S.
Bladensburg Peace Cross
In 2017, Judge Gregory disagreed with a court decision about a memorial. This memorial was a cross honoring soldiers from World War I. The court said it violated a rule about government and religion. Judge Gregory believed it did not. The Supreme Court of the United States later reviewed this case. They decided that the memorial was allowed to stay.
See also
