Know a Nominee: Julius Richardson for the Fourth Circuit

Update 8/16 II: The Senate confirmed Richardson on a 81-8 vote. He'll take his seat on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals as soon as he receives his judicial commission.

Update 8/16: The Senate voted 80-10 to invoke cloture (ie limit debate) on Richardson's nomination, and senators reached a unanimous consent agreement to waive the 30 hours of post-cloture debate and vote on his confirmation today.

Who is he?

• Julius Ness “Jay” Richardson, 41, is an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina.
• After graduating law school he clerked for Chief Justice of the U.S. William Rehnquist, before working for three years at a law firm specializing in complex civil litigation.
• He became a federal prosecutor in 2009, and prosecuted the mass murderer responsible for the Charleston church shooting.

What’s the outlook for his nomination?

• The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced his nomination on a 20-1 vote on July 19, so it’s unlikely his nomination will encounter much resistance before the full Senate.

What does it mean for the Fourth Circuit?

• Richardson is being appointed to fill the only current vacancy on the 15-judge Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Of the 14 other judges currently composing the court, six were appointed by Barack Obama, two by George W. Bush, four by Bill Clinton, along with one each by George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan.

(Note: An earlier version of this article mistakenly said the Fourth Circuit Court had 13 judgeships and 12 active judges and has since been corrected.)

Tell your senators whether they should support or oppose Julius Richardson’s nomination and share your thoughts below!

— Eric Revell

(Photo Credit: iStock / imaginima)