Tamika Montgomery-Reeves facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tamika Montgomery-Reeves
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Incumbent
Assumed office February 7, 2023
Appointed by	Joe Biden
Preceded by	Thomas L. Ambro
Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court
In office January 3, 2020 – February 7, 2023
Appointed by	John Carney
Preceded by	Collins J. Seitz Jr.
Succeeded by	N. Christopher Griffiths
Vice Chancellor of the Delaware Court of Chancery
In office October 28, 2015 – January 3, 2020
Appointed by	Jack Markell
Preceded by	Donald Parsons
Succeeded by	Paul A. Fioravanti Jr.
Personal details
Born	Tamika Renee Montgomery 1981 (age 44–45) Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Jeffrey Reeves
Children	2
Education	University of Mississippi (BA) University of Georgia (JD)

Tamika Renee Montgomery-Reeves (born in 1981) is an American lawyer and judge. She currently serves as a United States circuit judge. This means she works for the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Before this, she was a justice on the Delaware Supreme Court.

Early Life and Education

Tamika Montgomery-Reeves was born in Jackson, Mississippi. Her parents are Dewrey and Bettye Montgomery. She went to the University of Mississippi. In 2003, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. She then studied law at the University of Georgia School of Law. She received her law degree in 2006.

Her Legal Career

After law school, Montgomery-Reeves worked as a lawyer. She practiced law at a firm called Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. This firm is in Wilmington. She focused on rules for businesses and solving business disagreements. She also worked at Weil Gotshal & Manges in New York City. There, she focused on business rules and stock market laws.

In 2015, she became a Vice Chancellor for the Delaware Court of Chancery. This court handles important business cases. She also helped people who were in prison without pay. She worked with a group to make the legal community in Delaware more diverse. This means having people from many different backgrounds.

Serving as a Delaware Judge

On October 13, 2015, Jack Markell, who was the Governor at the time, chose Montgomery-Reeves for a judge position. She became a Vice Chancellor on the Delaware Court of Chancery.

Later, on October 24, 2019, Governor John Carney nominated her again. This time, he chose her to be a justice on the Delaware Supreme Court. The Delaware Senate approved her nomination. She became the first African-American justice on that court. She officially started her new role on January 3, 2020.

In 2021, she wrote an important court decision. It said that some records from President Joe Biden were private. They could not be shared under a public information law. Her time as a Delaware Supreme Court justice ended on February 7, 2023. This was because she was chosen for a higher court.

Serving as a Federal Judge

On June 29, 2022, President Joe Biden announced his plan to nominate Montgomery-Reeves. He wanted her to be a United States circuit judge. This is a very important role. Her nomination was sent to the Senate on July 11, 2022. She was nominated to fill a seat left by Judge Thomas L. Ambro.

On September 7, 2022, a hearing was held about her nomination. This hearing was with the Senate Judiciary Committee. The American Bar Association, a group of lawyers, said she was "well qualified" for the job.

During her hearing, senators asked her about a plan to increase diversity in Delaware's courts. She had helped lead a committee for this plan. The goal was to make sure more people from different backgrounds could become lawyers and judges. On September 28, 2022, the committee voted to approve her nomination. On December 12, 2022, the United States Senate voted to confirm her. She officially became a judge on February 7, 2023.

See also

• Joe Biden Supreme Court candidates
• List of African American federal judges
• List of African American jurists
• List of justices of the Delaware Supreme Court