David John Novak (born 1961)[1] is a United States district judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and a former United States magistrate judge of the same court.

David J. Novak
Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
Assumed office
October 17, 2019
Appointed byDonald Trump
Preceded byHenry E. Hudson
Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
In office
February 1, 2012 – October 17, 2019
Preceded byDennis Dohnal
Succeeded byElizabeth Hanes
Personal details
Born1961 (age 62–63)
Greensburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.[1]
EducationSaint Vincent College (BA)
Villanova University (JD)

Education

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Novak received his Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from Saint Vincent College in 1983 and his Juris Doctor from Villanova University School of Law in 1986.[2]

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Novak has served in multiple positions at the United States Department of Justice, including serving as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of Texas from 1991 to 1994 and as a Trial Attorney in the Criminal Division. He later served 18 years as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia, including as Chief of the Criminal Division and as Senior Litigation Counsel.[2]

Federal judicial service

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Failed nomination for district court under Bush

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On November 15, 2007, President George W. Bush nominated Novak to serve as a Judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia to the seat vacated by Robert E. Payne, who assumed senior status on May 7, 2007.[3] A hearing on his nomination was held on April 3, 2008.[3] The Senate never acted on the nomination.[4]

United States magistrate judge

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In 2012 he was selected to be a United States magistrate judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and served as one until his elevation as a federal district judge.[5]

Renomination to district court under Trump

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On March 15, 2019, President Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate Novak to serve as a United States district judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. On March 26, 2019, his nomination was sent to the Senate. Novak was nominated to the seat vacated by Judge Henry E. Hudson, who assumed senior status on June 1, 2018.[6] On April 30, 2019, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.[7] On June 13, 2019, his nomination was reported out of committee by a 19–3 vote.[8] On October 16, 2019, the United States Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 86–4 vote.[9] His nomination was confirmed later that day by a 89–3 vote.[10] He received his judicial commission on October 17, 2019.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Resumé: David J. Novak". www.justice.gov. USDOJ: United States Department of Justice Archive - Office of Legal Policy. Retrieved 2019-03-28.
  2. ^ a b "President Donald J. Trump Announces Judicial Nominees" White House, March 15, 2019   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ^ a b "PN1067 - Nomination of David J. Novak for The Judiciary, 110th Congress (2007–2008)". www.congress.gov. 2009-01-02. Retrieved 2019-03-28.
  4. ^ Ryan, Tim (2019-03-15). "Trump Taps Two for Federal Judgeships in Texas, Virginia". Retrieved 2019-03-18.
  5. ^ a b David J. Novak at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  6. ^ "Seven Nominations Sent to the Senate Today", White House, March 26, 2019
  7. ^ United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary: Nominations for April 30, 2019
  8. ^ "Results of Executive Business Meeting – June 13, 2019" (PDF). Senate Judiciary Committee.
  9. ^ "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture David Novak to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia)". United States Senate. October 16, 2019.
  10. ^ "On the Nomination (Confirmation David John Novak, of Virginia, to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia)". United States Senate. October 16, 2019.
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Legal offices
Preceded by Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
2019–present
Incumbent