Early life and education
Sharp was born on January 22, 1963, in Memphis, Tennessee.[1] He earned an Associate of Arts from Mesa Community College in 1988.[2] Sharp then received a Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude, from Christian Brothers College (now known as Christian Brothers University) in 1990 and a Juris Doctor from Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1993.[3][4]
Federal judicial service
During the 111th Congress, Democrats from the Tennessee House delegation provided recommendations to the Obama White House for filling a vacancy on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee.[5] Sharp, himself a Democrat, was included on the original list of recommendations, but the delegation ultimately recommended Nashville attorney Kathryn Barnett as its first choice.[5] However, Sharp was the preferred choice of Republican Tennessee Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker.[5]
On November 17, 2010, President Barack Obama nominated Sharp to a judgeship on the Middle District of Tennessee.[3] His nomination was for the seat vacated by Judge Robert L. Echols.[6] On May 2, 2011, the United States Senate confirmed his nomination by a 89–0 vote.[7] He received his commission on May 3, 2011,[4] and served as Chief Judge beginning October 1, 2014.[4][8] On January 26, 2017, he sent a letter to President Trump resigning his judgeship effective April 15, 2017.[9][10]
Personal
Sharp's former father-in-law, Lew Conner, is a former state court judge and a prominent Republican fundraiser who has donated over forty thousand dollars to the campaigns and political action committees of Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker.[5]
