Kevin Gafford Ritz (born October 15, 1974) is an American lawyer who has served as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee since September 2022. He is a nominee to serve as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Kevin G. Ritz | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee | |
| Assumed office September 28, 2022 | |
| Appointed by | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Joe Murphy (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Kevin Gafford Ritz[1] October 15, 1974 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.[2] |
| Education | University of Virginia (BA, JD) Georgetown University (MS) |
Education edit
A native of Memphis, Ritz graduated from White Station High School.[3] Ritz received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia in 1997, where he was a Jefferson Scholar. He later received a Master of Science from Georgetown University in 1999, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2004.[4]
Career edit
From 2004 to 2005, Ritz served as a law clerk for Judge Julia Smith Gibbons of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. In 2005, he became an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney's office for the Western District of Tennessee.[4] Ritz worked as a prosecutor in drug trafficking[5] and gun-related crimes before moving to appellate law later in his career. He appeared as counsel in United States v. Castleman.[6]
U.S. attorney for the Western District of Tennessee edit
On July 29, 2022, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Ritz to be the United States attorney for the Western District of Tennessee.[6] On August 1, 2022, his nomination was sent to the United States Senate, and the nomination was confirmed on September 22, 2022, by voice vote.[7] Ritz was sworn in by Chief Judge S. Thomas Anderson on September 28, 2022.[8]
Nomination to the court of appeals edit
On March 20, 2024, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Ritz to serve as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.[9] His nomination drew opposition from Senator Marsha Blackburn, who said the White House had abandoned discussions with her and fellow Tennessee senator Bill Hagerty about finding a nominee for the position.[10][11] On March 21, 2024, his nomination was sent to the Senate. President Biden nominated Ritz to the seat being vacated by Judge Julia Smith Gibbons, who announced her intent to assume senior status upon confirmation of a successor.[12] On April 17, 2024, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.[13] During his hearing, Republican senators raised questions about an ethics complaint filed against Ritz during his time as an assistant United States attorney for misrepresenting charges during a criminal case. He was also questioned why federal gun charges were not brought against a man allegedly involved in the fatal shooting of Memphis police officer Joseph McKinney.[14] His nomination is pending before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
References edit
- ^ "Kevin Gafford Ritz Profile". www.martindale.com. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
- ^ "Western District of Tennessee | Kevin Ritz Sworn in as United States Attorney | United States Department of Justice". www.justice.gov. September 28, 2022.
- ^ "Congressman Cohen Applauds Senate Confirmation of Kevin G. Ritz | Congressman Steve Cohen". cohen.house.gov. September 22, 2022.
- ^ a b
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: "President Biden Announces Three New Nominees to Serve as U.S. Attorneys, One to Serve as U.S. Marshal" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. July 29, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
- ^ "U.S. Attorney Ritz discusses role, talks issues across West Tennessee". April 11, 2023.
- ^ a b Finton, Lucas (July 29, 2022). "President Joe Biden nominates former assistant U.S. attorney to top spot in Memphis". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
- ^ "PN2442 - Nomination of Kevin G. Ritz for Department of Justice, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". United States Congress. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
- ^ "Kevin Ritz Sworn in as United States Attorney". United States Department of Justice. September 28, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
- ^ "President Biden Names Forty-Seventh Round of Judicial Nominees and Announces One New Nominee to Serve as U.S. Marshal" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. March 20, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Raymond, Nate. "Biden nominates Tennessee prosecutor to US appeals court". Reuters. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
- ^ Finton, Lucas. "Biden taps U.S. Attorney for Western District Kevin Ritz as Sixth Circuit Judge nominee". commericalappeal.com. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
- ^ "Nominations Sent to the Senate" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. March 20, 2024.
- ^ "Nominations". Washington, D.C.: United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. April 16, 2024.
- ^ Headley, Tiana (April 17, 2024). "Biden Sixth Circuit Pick Pressured by Republicans on Ethics (1)". news.bloomberglaw.com. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
