Beryl A. Howell
Encyclopedia
Beryl A. Howell is a federal District Court judge for the United States District Court for the District of Columbia
and former RIAA lobbyist. She was nominated by President Barack Obama
on July 14, 2010 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December 27, 2010. She previously served as Commissioner on the United States Sentencing Commission
.
with her Bachelor's degree, with honors in Philosophy in 1978 and from Columbia University School of Law with a Juris Doctor
in 1983.
in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
from 1983 to 1984. From the years 1985 to 1987 she was in private practice as an associate at the New York
law firm
of Schulte Roth & Zabel
. From 1987 to 1993, Howell was an Assistant United States Attorney
for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
, where she became Deputy Chief of the Narcotics Section. From 1993 to 2003, Howell served on the staff of the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
as a senior advisor to chairman Patrick Leahy
, including as the committee’s general counsel
starting in 1997. Howell served as a member of the United States Sentencing Commission from 2004 until being seated on the District Court in 2010.
United States District Court for the District of Columbia
The United States District Court for the District of Columbia is a federal district court. Appeals from the District are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit The United States District Court for the District of Columbia (in case citations, D.D.C.) is a...
and former RIAA lobbyist. She was nominated by President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
on July 14, 2010 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December 27, 2010. She previously served as Commissioner on the United States Sentencing Commission
United States Sentencing Commission
The United States Sentencing Commission is an independent agency of the judicial branch of the federal government of the United States. It is responsible for articulating the sentencing guidelines for the United States federal courts...
.
Early life and education
Howell graduated from Bryn Mawr CollegeBryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College is a women's liberal arts college located in Bryn Mawr, a community in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, ten miles west of Philadelphia. The name "Bryn Mawr" means "big hill" in Welsh....
with her Bachelor's degree, with honors in Philosophy in 1978 and from Columbia University School of Law with a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
in 1983.
Legal career
Following law school graduation, Howell clerked for Judge Dickinson Richards DebevoiseDickinson Richards Debevoise
Dickinson Richards Debevoise is a U.S. Senior District Judge on the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.-Biography:...
in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
The United States District Court for the District of New Jersey is the federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of New Jersey....
from 1983 to 1984. From the years 1985 to 1987 she was in private practice as an associate at the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
of Schulte Roth & Zabel
Schulte Roth & Zabel
Schulte Roth & Zabel is an American law firm and one of the top 100 largest law firms by revenue. The firm was founded in New York City in 1969 and launched in London offering American and English law capabilities in 2002. The firm also has an office in Washington, D.C...
. From 1987 to 1993, Howell was an Assistant United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York is the federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the entirety of Long Island and Staten Island...
, where she became Deputy Chief of the Narcotics Section. From 1993 to 2003, Howell served on the staff of the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary is a standing committee of the United States Senate, of the United States Congress. The Judiciary Committee, with 18 members, is charged with conducting hearings prior to the Senate votes on confirmation of federal judges nominated by the...
as a senior advisor to chairman Patrick Leahy
Patrick Leahy
Patrick Joseph Leahy is the senior United States Senator from Vermont and member of the Democratic Party. He is the first and only elected Democratic United States Senator in Vermont's history. He is the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Leahy is the second most senior U.S. Senator,...
, including as the committee’s general counsel
General Counsel
A general counsel is the chief lawyer of a legal department, usually in a corporation or government department. The term is most used in the United States...
starting in 1997. Howell served as a member of the United States Sentencing Commission from 2004 until being seated on the District Court in 2010.