Leon Schydlower (born 1971)[2] is an American lawyer who has served as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas since 2024. He previously served as a United States magistrate judge of the same court from 2015 to 2024.

Leon Schydlower
Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
Assumed office
March 26, 2024
Appointed byJoe Biden
Preceded byFrank Montalvo
Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
In office
December 1, 2015 – March 26, 2024
Personal details
Born1971 (age 52–53)
Long Beach, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic[1]
EducationUniversity of Texas at Austin (BA, JD)

Education

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Schydlower's father is an immigrant from Cuba.[3] In 1989, Schydlower graduated from Hanks High School in eastern El Paso.[4] Schydlower received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas at Austin in 1993 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law in 1995.[5]

Career

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From 1996 to 1998, Schydlower served as a trial attorney on active duty in the United States Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps. He was in the United States Navy Reserve from 2000 to 2004 and has served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve Judge Advocate General's Corps since 2010, where he holds the rank of lieutenant colonel. From 1998 to 2000, he worked as a special assistant United States attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Hawaii. From 2000 to 2002, he was a partner and associate at El Paso's Kemp Smith law firm. From 2002 to 2015, he was a sole practitioner.[5] From 2015 to 2024, he served as a United States magistrate judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas.[6] He was sworn in and had a formal investiture on January 13, 2016.[7]

Federal judicial service

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On December 19, 2023, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Schydlower to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas. His nomination received support from Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz.[8] On January 10, 2024, his nomination was sent to the Senate. President Biden nominated Schydlower to the seat vacated by Judge Philip Ray Martinez, who died on February 26, 2021.[9] On January 24, 2024, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.[10] On February 7, 2024, his nomination was withdrawn and he was renominated to the seat vacated by Judge Frank Montalvo, who assumed senior status on December 1, 2022.[11] On February 29, 2024, his nomination was reported out of committee by a 20–1 vote.[12] On March 22, 2024, the United States Senate confirmed his nomination by a 90–8 vote.[13] He received his judicial commission on March 26, 2024.[14]

References

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  1. ^ "2006 Democratic Party Primary Election - State Representative District 78". Office of Secretary of State - TX.
  2. ^ "Questionnaire for Judicial Nominees" (PDF). United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  3. ^ Martinez, Aaron. "'I'm incredibly honored': El Pasoan Leon Schydlower sworn in as new U.S. District Court judge". El Paso Times.
  4. ^ Pittock, Drew (December 19, 2023). "President Biden nominates El Pasoan for West Texas U.S. District Court". KFOX.
  5. ^ a b "President Biden Names Forty-Third Round of Judicial Nominees" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. December 19, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. ^ "Leon Schydlower | United States Courts". www.uscourts.gov. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  7. ^ "U.S. Magistrate Judge Leon Schydlower Investiture". El Paso Times. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  8. ^ Jefferson, Greg (December 19, 2023). "Biden to nominate two to federal bench based in San Antonio". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  9. ^ "Nominations Press Release Attached" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. January 10, 2024.
  10. ^ "Nominations". Washington, D.C.: United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. January 23, 2024.
  11. ^ "Nominations and Withdrawals Sent to the Senate" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. February 7, 2024.
  12. ^ "Results of Executive Business Meeting – February 29, 2024" (PDF). United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  13. ^ "On the Nomination (Confirmation: Leon Schydlower, of Texas, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Texas)". United States Senate. March 22, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  14. ^ Leon Schydlower at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
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Legal offices
Preceded by Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
2024–present
Incumbent