Charles R. Wilson
Encyclopedia
Charles R. Wilson is currently a federal judge
on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
.
in 1954. He is a graduate of Jesuit High School of Tampa
. He received his Bachelor of Arts
degree
from the University of Notre Dame
in 1976 and his J.D.
from Notre Dame Law School
in 1979.
, he served as a law clerk
for Judge Joseph W. Hatchett
of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
from 1979 to 1980. From 1980 to 1981, he served as an Assistant County Attorney
in Hillsborough County, Florida
. Following a five-year stint in private practice
based in Tampa, Florida
, he was appointed as a County State Judge in Hillsborough County, serving in that capacity until 1990, when he was appointed as a magistrate judge
in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
. He served as a magistrate judge until 1994, when he was appointed United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida
.
Bill Clinton
nominated Wilson to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit on May 27, 1999 to replace the vacancy created when Hatchett, his former boss, retired.
Wilson's nomination was relatively uncontroversial, earning bipartisan support from both of his state's U.S. Senators
, Bob Graham
and Connie Mack III
. Wilson was confirmed by the U.S. Senate by voice vote
on July 30, 1999. He received commission
on August 9, 1999.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Middle District of Alabama...
.
Background
Wilson was born in Pensacola, FloridaPensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
in 1954. He is a graduate of Jesuit High School of Tampa
Jesuit High School of Tampa
Jesuit High School of Tampa, established in 1899, is a private, Catholic, all-male high school located in Tampa, Florida, USA. It operates independently of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg. The school has been named a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.Jesuit of Tampa teaches a college...
. He received his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
from the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
in 1976 and his J.D.
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...
from Notre Dame Law School
Notre Dame Law School
The Notre Dame Law School, or NDLS, is the professional graduate law program of its parent institution, the University of Notre Dame. Established in 1869, NDLS is the oldest Roman Catholic law school in the United States. NDLS is ranked 22nd among the nation's "Top 100 Law Schools" by U.S. News &...
in 1979.
Legal career
Following graduation from law schoolLaw school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
, he served as a law clerk
Law clerk
A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Law clerks are not court clerks or courtroom deputies, who are administrative staff for the court. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who...
for Judge Joseph W. Hatchett
Joseph W. Hatchett
Joseph Hatchett was born in Clearwater, Florida on September 17, 1932. His mother worked as a maid and his father was a cotton picker. Hatchett rose from these working class beginnings to become the first black man elected to the Florida Supreme Court....
of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Eastern District of Louisiana* Middle District of Louisiana...
from 1979 to 1980. From 1980 to 1981, he served as an Assistant County Attorney
County attorney
A county attorney in many areas of the United States is the chief legal officer for a county or local judicial district. It is usually an elected position...
in Hillsborough County, Florida
Hillsborough County, Florida
As of the census of 2000, there were 998,948 people, 391,357 households, and 255,164 families residing in the county. The population density was 951 people per square mile . There were 425,962 housing units at an average density of 405 per square mile...
. Following a five-year stint in private practice
Practice of law
In its most general sense, the practice of law involves giving legal advice to clients, drafting legal documents for clients, and representing clients in legal negotiations and court proceedings such as lawsuits, and is applied to the professional services of a lawyer or attorney at law, barrister,...
based in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, he was appointed as a County State Judge in Hillsborough County, serving in that capacity until 1990, when he was appointed as a magistrate judge
United States magistrate judge
In the United States federal courts, magistrate judges are appointed to assist United States district court judges in the performance of their duties...
in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
The United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida serves the residents of thirty-five counties from eight courthouses....
. He served as a magistrate judge until 1994, when he was appointed United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida
United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida
The United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida is the United States Attorney responsible for representing the federal government in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida....
.
Eleventh Circuit nomination and confirmation
PresidentPresident of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
nominated Wilson to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit on May 27, 1999 to replace the vacancy created when Hatchett, his former boss, retired.
Wilson's nomination was relatively uncontroversial, earning bipartisan support from both of his state's U.S. Senators
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, Bob Graham
Bob Graham
Daniel Robert "Bob" Graham is an American politician. He was the 38th Governor of Florida from 1979 to 1987 and a United States Senator from that state from 1987 to 2005...
and Connie Mack III
Connie Mack III
Cornelius Alexander McGillicuddy III , popularly known as Connie Mack, is a former Republican politician. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Florida from 1983 to 1989 and then as a Senator from 1989 to 2001. He served as chairman of the Senate Republican...
. Wilson was confirmed by the U.S. Senate by voice vote
Voice vote
A voice vote is a voting method used by deliberative assemblies in which a vote is taken on a topic or motion by responding verbally....
on July 30, 1999. He received commission
Letters patent
Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...
on August 9, 1999.