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Sidney R. Thomas

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Sidney R. Thomas
Thomas in 2010
Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Incumbent
Assumed office
May 4, 2023
Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
In office
December 1, 2014 – December 1, 2021
Preceded byAlex Kozinski
Succeeded byMary H. Murguia
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
In office
January 4, 1996 – May 4, 2023
Appointed byBill Clinton
Preceded byDorothy Wright Nelson
Succeeded byAnthony Johnstone
Personal details
Born
Sidney Runyan Thomas

(1953-08-14) August 14, 1953 (age 71)
Bozeman, Montana
Political partyDemocratic
EducationMontana State University (BA)
University of Montana (JD)

Sidney Runyan Thomas (born August 14, 1953) is an American lawyer and jurist serving as a senior U.S. circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit since 1996. He served as the Ninth Circuit's chief judge from 2014 to 2021. His chambers are located in Billings, Montana.

Early life and education

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Thomas was born in Bozeman, Montana. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Montana State University in 1975 and his Juris Doctor with honors from the University of Montana School of Law in 1978.[1] He was appointed as a student member of the state Board of Regents of Higher Education in 1974 and reappointed in 1976.[2]

Professional career

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After graduating from law school, Thomas entered private practice at Moulton, Bellingham, Longo & Mather, a law firm in Billings, Montana.[2] He became a senior partner there, where he specialized in commercial litigation[2] as well as government, bankruptcy and media law.[3]

Thomas also served as the standing bankruptcy trustee for all bankruptcy cases filed in the Billings Division of the United States District Court for the District of Montana from 1978 to 1981 and served as an adjunct instructor in law at Rocky Mountain College from 1982 to 1995.[4]

Federal judicial service

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On July 19, 1995, President Bill Clinton nominated Thomas to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit vacated by Judge Dorothy Wright Nelson. His nomination had been briefly held up by U.S. Senator Conrad Burns of Montana, who wanted the nominations of Thomas and A. Wallace Tashima delayed until the passage of a bill to split the Ninth Circuit into two circuits.[1] The United States Senate confirmed Thomas on January 2, 1996 by a voice vote. He received his commission on January 4, 1996. He served as Chief Judge from December 1, 2014 to December 1, 2021.[5][6] On March 29, 2022, he announced his intent to assume senior status upon confirmation of a successor.[7] He assumed senior status on May 4, 2023.[5]

En banc coordinator

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Judge Thomas is the en banc coordinator for the Ninth Circuit, whose parliamentarian-type duties can affect the outcome of any case. "I've never known one of his rulings to be challenged," the Ninth Circuit's Chief Judge, Alex Kozinski, stated. "I think it's a tribute to his evenhandedness that he's been on the job for many years, and nobody wants a different en banc coordinator."[8]

Supreme Court consideration

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Senior White House officials listed Thomas among the approximately 10 individuals who were considered to replace retiring United States Supreme Court Associate Justice John Paul Stevens.

On April 29, 2010, the Associated Press reported that President Barack Obama had interviewed Thomas at the White House.[9][10] Vice President Joe Biden also interviewed him. Obama eventually nominated Solicitor General Elena Kagan, who was confirmed.

Notable rulings

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Thomas authored the opinion in Nadarajah v. Gonzales,[11] a civil rights case in 2006 on a suspected Tamil Tiger immigrant.

Thomas was in the majority in Peruta v. San Diego, a 2016 ordinance that ruled that San Diego's restrictive gun policy was constitutional.[12][13]

On June 26, 2020, Thomas ruled in favor of the Sierra Club, holding that the Department of Defense's decision to use $2.5 billion in Pentagon funds to fund the border wall violates the Appropriations Clause.[14] On July 31, the ruling was effectively reversed in a 5–4 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court.[15]

On May 13, 2021, Thomas ruled that an immigrant who arrived in the United States as a child does not need to have lawful permanent residency in order to derive citizenship from a parent who naturalized.[16]

Personal

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Thomas is married to Martha Sheehy, a Billings attorney who has practiced law since 1988.[17]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Senate Confirms Tashima, Thomas to Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals". Metropolitan News-Enterprise. January 3, 1996. p. 1.
  2. ^ a b c Lorna Thackeray, Thomas’ Colleagues Hail Judge’s Credentials, Billings Gazette (April 16, 2010).
  3. ^ "Clinton Nominates Montana Lawyer for Ninth Circuit Seat". Associated Press. July 19, 1995. p. 1.
  4. ^ "President Nominates Sidney Thomas to Appeals Court". U.S. Newswire. July 20, 1995.
  5. ^ a b "Thomas, Sidney Runyan - Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.
  6. ^ ""Judge From Billings to Lead Federal Appeals Court" Houston Chronicle, November 23, 2014".
  7. ^ "Ninth Circuit Chief Judge Emeritus Sidney R. Thomas to Take Senior Status" (PDF).
  8. ^ "Source: Potential High Court Nominee Thomas Would Fit Obama Narrative". The Recorder / Law.com. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
  9. ^ "Source: Judge Sidney Thomas on Supreme Court list". Associated Press. Retrieved 2010-04-12.
  10. ^ "Obama interviews Thomas, Garland for high court". Associated Press. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
  11. ^ Nadarajah v. Gonzales, 443 F.3d 1069 (9th Cir. 2006).
  12. ^ Kopel, David. "Ninth Circuit strikes California's restrictive rule against licensed carry of handguns". Washington Post. Retrieved 2014-02-13.
  13. ^ "Court Tosses California's Concealed Weapons Rules". Kpbs.org. 13 February 2014. Retrieved 2014-02-13.
  14. ^ "Court documents" (PDF). cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov. June 26, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  15. ^ "Court documents" (PDF). supremecourt.gov. July 31, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  16. ^ "Court documents" (PDF). cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov. May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  17. ^ CLAIR JOHNSON Billings Gazette (3 December 2012). "Obama to appoint 2 federal judges in Montana in 2013". missoulian.com.
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Legal offices
Preceded by Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
1996–2023 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
2014–2021 		Succeeded by
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