Roger Vinson
Encyclopedia
Clyde Roger Vinson is a senior federal judge
of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida
.
, Vinson attended the United States Naval Academy
and graduated in 1962 with a bachelor's degree
in engineering
. He served at Naval Air Station Pensacola
as a naval aviator
from 1962–1968, attaining the rank of lieutenant
. After his service, he attended Vanderbilt University
and received his J.D. in 1971.
Returning to Pensacola, Florida
, Vinson joined the law firm of Beggs & Lane, where he practiced general civil law from 1971–1983. He was nominated to the federal bench by President Ronald Reagan
on September 9, 1983 to a seat vacated by Lynn C. Higby, was confirmed by the Senate
on October 4, and received his commission
a day later. Among the notable cases he has presided over:
Vinson was chief judge from 1997 to 2004. He assumed senior status
on March 31, 2005.
He was appointed to serve a seven-year term on the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Court
, effective May 4, 2006. In 2009 he was installed as president of the American Camellia
Society.
In 2010, Vinson was assigned to hear a case, Florida et al v. United States Department of Health and Human Services
, brought by a group of 26 states that was filed with support by 22 attorneys general
and four governors challenging the constitutionality of the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
(PPACA), specifically its requirement that most individuals obtain medical insurance. The suit is the second of more than 15 lawsuits filed against the act that has advanced to this stage of litigation. On January 31, 2011, Vinson ruled that the individual mandate provision
of the PPACA violated the Constitution by regulating economic inactivity, and as the mandate is not severable
the entire statute was ruled unconstitutional. Vinson allowed the law to stand while it is being appealed by the Obama administration
.
Vinson later issued a stay
to his January ruling, allowing implementation to proceed while its constitutionality was weighed.
Federal judge
Federal judges are judges appointed by a federal level of government as opposed to the state / provincial / local level.-Brazil:In Brazil, federal judges of first instance are chosen exclusively by public contest...
of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida
United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida is the federal United States district court with jurisdiction over the northern part of the state of Florida....
.
Life and career
Born in Cadiz, KentuckyCadiz, Kentucky
Cadiz is a city in Trigg County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,373 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Trigg County. It is an old town located close to the Land Between the Lakes, a popular recreation area, and was a base of Union and Confederate operations in the American...
, Vinson attended the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
and graduated in 1962 with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
. He served at Naval Air Station Pensacola
Naval Air Station Pensacola
Naval Air Station Pensacola or NAS Pensacola , "The Cradle of Naval Aviation", is a United States Navy base located next to Warrington, Florida, a community southwest of the Pensacola city limits...
as a naval aviator
United States Naval Aviator
A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
from 1962–1968, attaining the rank of lieutenant
Lieutenant (naval)
LieutenantThe pronunciation of lieutenant is generally split between or , generally in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Commonwealth countries, and or , generally associated with the United States. See lieutenant. is a commissioned officer rank in many nations' navies...
. After his service, he attended Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
and received his J.D. in 1971.
Returning to Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola, 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...
, Vinson joined the law firm of Beggs & Lane, where he practiced general civil law from 1971–1983. He was nominated to the federal bench by President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
on September 9, 1983 to a seat vacated by Lynn C. Higby, was confirmed by the Senate
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...
on October 4, and received his 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...
a day later. Among the notable cases he has presided over:
- Four defendants of abortion clinic bombing, 1985
- Escambia County, FloridaEscambia County, FloridaEscambia County is the westernmost county in the U.S. state of Florida. The 2010 population was 297,619. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 296,772. Its county seat is Pensacola.- History :...
ordinance banning The Last Temptation of ChristThe Last Temptation of Christ (film)The Last Temptation of Christ is a 1988 drama film directed by Martin Scorsese. It is a film adaptation of the controversial 1953 novel of the same name by Nikos Kazantzakis. It stars Willem Dafoe as Jesus Christ, Harvey Keitel as Judas Iscariot, Barbara Hershey as Mary Magdalene, David Bowie as...
, 1988 - Shoney'sShoney'sShoney’s is a privately held restaurant chain that operates primarily in the Southeast, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic states and is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. It is named after Alex Schoenbaum, who was the owner of the original chain of Big Boy restaurants in the southeastern United States...
$134 million race discriminationRacismRacism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
settlement, 1993 - Paul Jennings HillPaul Jennings HillPaul Jennings Hill was the first person in the United States to be executed for murdering a doctor who performed abortions.-Early life:...
(federal Clinic Access Law charges), 1994 - Sentenced Financial Manager Marcus SchrenkerMarcus SchrenkerMarcus Schrenker is a financial manager known for attempting to fake his own death and the multi-state, three-day manhunt that followed. Schrenker lived and worked in Fishers, Indiana.-Background:...
, who attempted to fake his own death by parachuting out of his plane after charges were brought against him for securities fraudSecurities fraudSecurities fraud, also known as stock fraud and investment fraud, is a practice that induces investors to make purchase or sale decisions on the basis of false information, frequently resulting in losses, in violation of the securities laws....
, to four years in federal prison in 2009.
Vinson was chief judge from 1997 to 2004. He assumed senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on March 31, 2005.
He was appointed to serve a seven-year term on the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Court
United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court
The United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court is a U.S. federal court authorized under , . It was established by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 . The FISC oversees requests for surveillance warrants against suspected foreign intelligence agents inside the United...
, effective May 4, 2006. In 2009 he was installed as president of the American Camellia
Camellia
Camellia, the camellias, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae. They are found in eastern and southern Asia, from the Himalaya east to Korea and Indonesia. There are 100–250 described species, with some controversy over the exact number...
Society.
In 2010, Vinson was assigned to hear a case, Florida et al v. United States Department of Health and Human Services
Florida et al v. United States Department of Health and Human Services
Florida et al v. United States Department of Health and Human Services is a lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida by the State of Florida against the United States Department of Health and Human Services seeking to nullify the Patient Protection and...
, brought by a group of 26 states that was filed with support by 22 attorneys general
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
and four governors challenging the constitutionality of the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a United States federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The law is the principal health care reform legislation of the 111th United States Congress...
(PPACA), specifically its requirement that most individuals obtain medical insurance. The suit is the second of more than 15 lawsuits filed against the act that has advanced to this stage of litigation. On January 31, 2011, Vinson ruled that the individual mandate provision
Health insurance mandate
A health insurance mandate is either an employer or individual mandate to obtain private health insurance, instead of a National Health Service or National Health Insurance.-United States:...
of the PPACA violated the Constitution by regulating economic inactivity, and as the mandate is not severable
Severability
In law, severability refers to a provision in a contract which states that if parts of the contract are held to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, the remainder of the contract should still apply...
the entire statute was ruled unconstitutional. Vinson allowed the law to stand while it is being appealed by the Obama administration
Presidency of Barack Obama
The Presidency of Barack Obama began at noon EST on January 20, 2009 when he became the 44th President of the United States. Obama was a United States Senator from Illinois at the time of his victory over Arizona Senator John McCain in the 2008 presidential election...
.
Vinson later issued a stay
Stay of proceedings
A stay of proceedings is a ruling by the court in civil and criminal procedure, halting further legal process in a trial. The court can subsequently lift the stay and resume proceedings. However, a stay is sometimes used as a device to postpone proceedings indefinitely.-United Kingdom:In United...
to his January ruling, allowing implementation to proceed while its constitutionality was weighed.