Mary Beck Briscoe
Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
Assumed office
March 15, 2021
Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
In office
May 1, 2010 – October 1, 2015
Preceded byRobert Harlan Henry
Succeeded byTimothy Tymkovich
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
In office
May 26, 1995 – March 15, 2021
Appointed byBill Clinton
Preceded byJames Kenneth Logan
Succeeded byRichard Federico
Personal details
Born
Mary Kathryn Beck[1]

(1947-04-04) April 4, 1947 (age 77)
Council Grove, Kansas, U.S.
SpouseCharles Arthur Briscoe[2]
EducationUniversity of Kansas (BA)
University of Kansas School of Law (JD)
University of Virginia School of Law (LLM)

Mary Kathryn Beck Briscoe (born April 4, 1947) is a senior United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.

Early life and education

Briscoe was born in Council Grove, Kansas, and grew up on a farm near that community. She graduated from Dwight Rural High School in 1965 as her small class's valedictorian, according to a June 1, 1995 article in the Kansas City Star. She then earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Kansas in 1969. Briscoe received a Juris Doctor from the University of Kansas School of Law in 1973, and earned a Master of Laws from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1990.[3]

Legal career

Briscoe began her legal career in 1973, first as a legal researcher, then working for the Interstate Commerce Commission as an attorney-examiner. In 1974, she was appointed Assistant United States Attorney for Kansas, eventually becoming the Supervising Attorney for the Topeka office. She was appointed to the Kansas Court of Appeals in 1984 by Gov. John W. Carlin, where she served until her appointment to the Tenth Circuit. From 1990 until 1995, Briscoe was the Chief Judge of the Kansas Court of Appeals.[3]

Federal judicial service

On March 14, 1995, President Bill Clinton nominated Briscoe to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit to replace Judge James Kenneth Logan, who retired on August 31, 1994. Her nomination was uncontroversial, and the United States Senate confirmed her by a voice vote on May 25, 1995. She received her commission on May 26, 1995.[4] She served as Chief Judge from May 1, 2010 to October 1, 2015.[4][5] Briscoe assumed senior status on March 15, 2021.[4]

Notes

  1. ^ Confirmation hearings on federal appointments: hearings before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourth Congress, first session, on confirmation of appointees to the federal judiciary. U.S. G.P.O. October 22, 1996. ISBN 9780160536892 – via HathiTrust.
  2. ^ President Names Mary Beck Briscoe to Appellate Bench
  3. ^ a b Judge Mary Beck Briscoe Tenth Circuit Judges Archived March 28, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ a b c Mary Beck Briscoe at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  5. ^ "Update: Tenth Circuit Names New Chief Judge".

References

Legal offices Preceded byJames Kenneth Logan Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit 1995–2021 Succeeded byRichard Federico Preceded byRobert Harlan Henry Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit 2010–2015 Succeeded byTimothy Tymkovich
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