Albert Diaz (judge)

Albert Diaz
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Assumed office
December 22, 2010
Appointed by Barack Obama
Preceded by William Wilkins
Personal details
Born 1960 (age 55–56)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Alma mater University of Pennsylvania
New York University
Boston University

Albert Diaz (born 1960) is a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Diaz is the first Hispanic judge to serve the Fourth Circuit. Prior to his appointment to the U.S. Court of Appeals, Diaz was a North Carolina state superior court judge and an Appellate Judge for the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals.

Early life and education

Raised in Brooklyn as the son of divorced Puerto Rican parents, Diaz and his two brothers were raised by his mother. After graduating high school, he enlisted in the Marines.[1]

Diaz earned a bachelor's degree in economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1983 and earned a law degree from New York University School of Law in 1988.[2] Diaz earned a master of business administration degree from Boston University, in 1993.[2] Diaz also served with the Marines from 1988-1995 as a Judge Advocate for the U.S. Marines, retiring as a Lt. Colonel, USMCR.[3] [4]

Professional career

While in the Marines, Diaz served as a prosecutor, defense lawyer and judge.[1] He left the service in 1995 for private practice, becoming an associate with the law firm of Hunton & Williams and represented Philip Morris USA during tobacco lawsuits in the late 1990s.[1] Also from 2000-2005 Diaz served as a Military Judge for the U.S. Navy-Marine Corps Trial Judiciary and as an Appellate Judge for the U.S. Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals.[3][5]

Work as a judge in North Carolina

In 2001, then-North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley appointed Diaz to the North Carolina Superior Court, making Diaz the first Hispanic ever to be a state judge in North Carolina.[1] The following year, Diaz lost a bid for election.[1] However, Easley again appointed Diaz to the Superior Court.[1] Then, in 2005, the North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice appointed Diaz to be Charlotte, North Carolina's first ever Business Court judge, one of just three in the state.[1]

Federal judicial service

On November 4, 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Diaz to be a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, to replace Judge William Walter Wilkins, who had taken senior status in July 2007 and later retired.[2] Diaz was nominated to the seat to which Steve A. Matthews previously had been nominated by President George W. Bush. The nomination, made along with that of fellow North Carolina nominee James A. Wynn, Jr., was jointly endorsed by North Carolina senators Kay Hagan, a Democrat, and Richard Burr, a Republican.[6] The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 19-0 on Jan. 28, 2010 to send his nomination to the Senate floor.[7] A combination of secret holds and the threat of filibuster by Republicans caused Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid not to bring Diaz's confirmation to a vote for nearly eleven months.[8] Finally, on Dec. 18, 2010, the Senate confirmed Diaz by voice vote.[9]

Judiciary Committee hearing

Diaz's Public Questionnaire Available Here
Questions for the Record Available Here

Diaz received a unanimous vote from the Senate Judiciary Committee to forward his nomination to the full Senate.[10]

He had a hearing before the Committee on December 16, 2009.[11] He was heard along with fellow nominee James Wynn by just three of the Committee members. When asked about his judicial philosophy, Diaz said: "We're not simply dealing with an academic exercise, but we're affecting people's lives in each and every case".[12][13] They reported him to the Senate on January 28, 2010 and the Senate confirmed his nomination on December 18, 2010.[14]

Awards and Associations

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Wright, Gary L.; Jim Morrill (October 9, 2009). "White House evaluates Diaz for 4th Circuit Court". Charlotte Observer. p. 1A. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 President Obama Nominates Judge Albert Diaz and Judge James Wynn to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, whitehouse.gov (November 4, 2009).
  3. 1 2 3 North Carolina Court System Diaz Biography
  4. ↑ JUDGE ALBERTO DIAZ Nominee to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals
  5. ↑ Charlotte Observer "White House evaluates Diaz for 4th Circuit Court", October 9, 2009
  6. ↑ Diana Smith, North Carolina Lawyer's Weekly, reprinted in Virginia Lawyer's Weekly, November 9, 2009, Vol. 24, No. 23, p. 3.
  7. ↑ News & Observer: Judges Diaz, Wynn get key Senate vote, head toward confirmation
  8. ↑ Jamelle Bouie (November 15, 2010). "The Vacancy Crisis". The American Prospect.
  9. ↑
  10. ↑ Off the Record "Wynn, Diaz advance", January 28, 2010
  11. ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee Official Hearing Notice
  12. ↑ News Observer "N.C. judges get easy hearing in Senate", December 17, 2009
  13. ↑ News-Record:Off the Record "N.C. judges show well at confirmation hearing", December 17, 2009
  14. ↑ Judicial Nomination Materials

External links

Legal offices
Preceded by
William Wilkins		 Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
2010–present 		Incumbent
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