James K. Bredar
James Bredar | |
---|---|
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland | |
Assumed office October 6, 2017 | |
Preceded by | Catherine C. Blake |
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland | |
Assumed office December 17, 2010 | |
Appointed by | Barack Obama |
Preceded by | J. Frederick Motz |
Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland | |
In office 1998 – December 17, 2010 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. | February 6, 1957
Education | Harvard College (BA) Georgetown University (JD) |
James Kelleher Bredar (born February 6, 1957) is the Chief United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. He previously served as a United States magistrate judge of the same court.
Early life and education
Bredar was born on February 6, 1957, in
Career
Bredar clerked for Judge
Federal judicial service
Bredar served as a United States magistrate judge from January 26, 1998, to December 17, 2010.[1][2]
On April 21, 2010, President Barack Obama nominated Bredar to be a United States District Judge for the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.[3] His nomination was confirmed in the Senate by unanimous consent on December 16, 2010.[4][5] He received his commission on December 17, 2010, and was sworn in on December 22, 2010.[2] He has served as Chief Judge since October 6, 2017.[1]
Notable cases
In April 2017, Bredar approved a
Bredar was one of three judges assigned to a case captioned Benisek v. Lamone, No. 1:13-cv-03233-JKB (D. Md.).[8] The case challenged Maryland's 2011 congressional redistricting map, and specifically Maryland's 6th congressional district, as an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander. The district court entered summary judgment in Plaintiffs' favor in late 2018, and the State sought review by the Supreme Court of the United States. The case was consolidated with Rucho v. Common Cause, a case that challenged the North Carolina congressional map as a partisan gerrymander. In a 5–4 decision issued in June 2019, the Supreme Court held that partisan gerrymandering claims present nonjusticiable political questions.[9] Justice Kagan, dissenting, observed that "[f]or the first time ever, th[e] Court refuses to remedy a constitutional violation because it thinks the task beyond judicial capabilities."
In an opinion at an earlier stage in the Benisek proceedings, Bredar had noted that "[p]artisan gerrymandering is noxious, a cancer on our democracy."[10]
References
- ^ a b c "James K. Bredar, U.S. District Court Judge (Maryland)". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. March 1, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
- ^ a b c d James K. Bredar at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
- ^ "President Obama Names Five to the United States District Court" (Press release). White House Office of the Press Secretary. April 21, 2010. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
- ^ Phillip, Abby (December 16, 2010). "Senate confirms judicial nominees". Politico. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
- ^ "PN1653 - Nomination of James Kelleher Bredar for The Judiciary, 111th Congress (2009-2010)". Congress.gov. December 16, 2010. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
- ^ Rector, Kevin (April 7, 2017). "Federal judge approves Baltimore policing consent decree, denying Justice Department request for delay". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
- ^ Victor, Daniel (April 8, 2017). "Judge Approves Consent Decree to Overhaul Baltimore Police Dept". The New York Times. p. A18. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
- ^ "Benisek v. Lamone". SCOTUSblog.
- ^ "Rucho v. Common Cause" (PDF). Supreme Court of the United States.
- ^ Kunzelman, Michael (November 7, 2018). "Judges Order Maryland to Draw New Congressional Map for 2020". U.S. News & World Report. Associated Press. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
External links
- James K. Bredar at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
- James K. Bredar at Ballotpedia