Benjamin Joel Beaton (born 1981)[1][2] is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.

Benjamin Beaton
Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
Assumed office
December 1, 2020
Appointed byDonald Trump
Preceded byJustin R. Walker
Personal details
Born1981 (age 42–43)
Paducah, Kentucky, U.S.
EducationCentre College (BA)
Columbia University (JD)

Education edit

Beaton is a 1999 graduate of Paducah Tilghman High School.[3] He earned his Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, from Centre College and his Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School, where he served as an Articles Editor on the Columbia Law Review.[4]

Career edit

Upon graduating from law school, Beaton served as a law clerk to Judge A. Raymond Randolph of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and to Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg of the Supreme Court of the United States. From 2012 to 2018, Beaton was an associate at Sidley Austin. From 2018 to 2020 he was a partner at Squire Patton Boggs where he co-chaired the firm's Appellate & Supreme Court practice group until his appointment to the bench. Beaton is an adjunct professor at the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, where he teaches constitutional interpretation.[4] Beaton is a member of the Federalist Society.[1][2]

Federal judicial service edit

On August 12, 2020, President Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate Beaton to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.[4] On September 8, 2020, his nomination was sent to the Senate. President Trump nominated Beaton to the seat vacated by Judge Justin R. Walker, who was elevated to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on September 2, 2020.[5] On September 9, 2020, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.[6] On October 22, 2020, his nomination was reported out of committee by a 12–0 vote.[7] On November 17, 2020, the United States Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 52–44 vote.[8] He was confirmed later that day by a 52–44 vote.[9] He received his judicial commission on December 1, 2020.[10]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Voruganti, Harsh (August 31, 2020). "Benjamin Beaton – Nominee to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky". The Vetting Room. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  2. ^ a b United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary: Questionnaire for Judicial Nominees: Benjamin Beaton
  3. ^ Fuller, Leanne (August 12, 2020). "Trump nominates Paducah native for federal judgeship". WPSD Local 6. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c "President Donald J. Trump Announces Judicial Nominees". whitehouse.gov. Retrieved August 12, 2020 – via National Archives.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. ^ "Eleven Nominations and Three Withdrawals Sent to the Senate", White House, September 8, 2020
  6. ^ United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary: Nominations for September 9, 2020
  7. ^ Results of Executive Business Meeting – October 22, 2020, Senate Judiciary Committee
  8. ^ "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture: Benjamin Joel Beaton to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Kentucky)" United States Senate, November 17, 2020
  9. ^ "On the Nomination (Confirmation: Benjamin Joel Beaton, of Kentucky, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Kentucky)" United States Senate, November 17, 2020
  10. ^ Benjamin Beaton at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

External links edit

Legal offices
Preceded by Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
2020–present
Incumbent