Timothy B. Dyk
Encyclopedia
Timothy Belcher Dyk is a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
.
, Massachusetts
. He earned his bachelor's degree cum laude from Harvard College
in 1958, and earned his law degree magna cum laude in 1961 from the Harvard Law School
, where he was a member of the law review
. Dyk clerked
for retired United States Supreme Court Justices Stanley Reed
and Harold Burton
in 1961 and 1962, and clerked for Supreme Court Chief Justice
Earl Warren
in 1962-1963. From 1963 until 1964, Dyk completed a one-year assignment with the United States Department of Justice
as Special Assistant to the Assistant Attorney General
, Tax Division
.
from 1964 until 2000, first with Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering, and later with Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue.
He was a lecturer at the Georgetown University Law Center
in 1983, 1986, and 1989, a visiting professor and lecturer at the University of Virginia Law School from 1984 to 1985 and from 1987 to 1988, and was also a lecturer at Yale Law School
in 1986, 1987, and 1989. Immediately prior to being nominated to the Federal Circuit in 1998, Dyk was a partner at Jones Day, specializing in First Amendment
law. One case saw Dyk arguing for the release to the public of the cockpit recordings of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster
. In an August 4, 1997 article in the Washington Post, Dyk was identified as one of "only a handful of repeat performers considered heavyweights" in representing clients before the U.S. Supreme Court. Dyk also made the news in the early and mid-1990s for his desire to open federal courtrooms to news media organizations. After the Judicial Conference of the United States
voted on September 20, 1994 to keep cameras out of federal courtrooms by ending a pilot program that had allowed cameras at civil trials and appeals in eight courts, Dyk told the Washington Post that "they appear to have slammed the door on a very important experiment, which, if it had been expanded, would have benefited people throughout the country."
nominated Dyk to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
vacated by Glenn L. Archer, Jr.. With the U.S. Senate controlled by Republicans, Dyk's nomination languished for more than two years. The delay was due in part to some Republican senators' views that the Federal Circuit did not need another judge. Dyk was confirmed to his federal circuit seat by the U.S. Senate by a 74-25 vote on May 24, 2000. He received his commission on May 25, 2000.
, was the Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget during the Clinton administration.
United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
-Vacancies and pending nominations:-List of former judges:-Chief judges:Notwithstanding the foregoing, when the court was initially created, Congress had to resolve which chief judge of the predecessor courts would become the first chief judge...
.
Education and early career
The son of noted women's suffragist Ruth Belcher Dyk, Dyk was born in BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. He earned his bachelor's degree cum laude from Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
in 1958, and earned his law degree magna cum laude in 1961 from the Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
, where he was a member of the law review
Law review
A law review is a scholarly journal focusing on legal issues, normally published by an organization of students at a law school or through a bar association...
. Dyk clerked
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 retired United States Supreme Court Justices Stanley Reed
Stanley Forman Reed
Stanley Forman Reed was a noted American attorney who served as United States Solicitor General from 1935 to 1938 and as an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1938 to 1957. He was the last Supreme Court Justice who did not graduate from law school Stanley Forman Reed (December 31,...
and Harold Burton
Harold Hitz Burton
Harold Hitz Burton was an American politician and lawyer.He served as the 45th mayor of Cleveland, Ohio, as a U.S. Senator from Ohio, and as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. He was known as a dispassionate jurist who prized equal justice under the law.-Biography:He...
in 1961 and 1962, and clerked for Supreme Court Chief Justice
Chief Justice of the United States
The Chief Justice of the United States is the head of the United States federal court system and the chief judge of the Supreme Court of the United States. The Chief Justice is one of nine Supreme Court justices; the other eight are the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States...
Earl Warren
Earl Warren
Earl Warren was the 14th Chief Justice of the United States.He is known for the sweeping decisions of the Warren Court, which ended school segregation and transformed many areas of American law, especially regarding the rights of the accused, ending public-school-sponsored prayer, and requiring...
in 1962-1963. From 1963 until 1964, Dyk completed a one-year assignment with the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
as Special Assistant to the Assistant Attorney General
United States Assistant Attorney General
Many of the divisions and offices of the United States Department of Justice are headed by an Assistant Attorney General.The President of the United States appoints individuals to the position of Assistant Attorney General with the advice and consent of the Senate...
, Tax Division
United States Department of Justice Tax Division
The United States Department of Justice Tax Division is responsible for the prosecution of both civil and criminal cases arising under the Internal Revenue Code and other tax laws of the United States...
.
Private practice
Dyk worked in private practice as an attorney in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
from 1964 until 2000, first with Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering, and later with Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue.
He was a lecturer at the Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
in 1983, 1986, and 1989, a visiting professor and lecturer at the University of Virginia Law School from 1984 to 1985 and from 1987 to 1988, and was also a lecturer at Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
in 1986, 1987, and 1989. Immediately prior to being nominated to the Federal Circuit in 1998, Dyk was a partner at Jones Day, specializing in First Amendment
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
law. One case saw Dyk arguing for the release to the public of the cockpit recordings of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster
Space Shuttle Challenger disaster
The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster occurred on January 28, 1986, when Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, leading to the deaths of its seven crew members. The spacecraft disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of central Florida at 11:38 am EST...
. In an August 4, 1997 article in the Washington Post, Dyk was identified as one of "only a handful of repeat performers considered heavyweights" in representing clients before the U.S. Supreme Court. Dyk also made the news in the early and mid-1990s for his desire to open federal courtrooms to news media organizations. After the Judicial Conference of the United States
Judicial Conference of the United States
The Judicial Conference of the United States, formerly known as Conference of Senior Circuit Judges, was created by the United States Congress in 1922 with the principal objective of framing policy guidelines for administration of judicial courts in the United States...
voted on September 20, 1994 to keep cameras out of federal courtrooms by ending a pilot program that had allowed cameras at civil trials and appeals in eight courts, Dyk told the Washington Post that "they appear to have slammed the door on a very important experiment, which, if it had been expanded, would have benefited people throughout the country."
Federal judicial service
On April 6, 1998, President Bill ClintonBill 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 Dyk to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
-Vacancies and pending nominations:-List of former judges:-Chief judges:Notwithstanding the foregoing, when the court was initially created, Congress had to resolve which chief judge of the predecessor courts would become the first chief judge...
vacated by Glenn L. Archer, Jr.. With the U.S. Senate controlled by Republicans, Dyk's nomination languished for more than two years. The delay was due in part to some Republican senators' views that the Federal Circuit did not need another judge. Dyk was confirmed to his federal circuit seat by the U.S. Senate by a 74-25 vote on May 24, 2000. He received his commission on May 25, 2000.
Personal
Dyk's wife, Sally KatzenSally Katzen
Sally Katzen is an American lawyer, legal scholar, and government official. Katzen was a member of the Obama-Biden Transition Project's Agency Review Working Group responsible for the Executive Office of the President and government operations agencies, and held various positions in the Bill...
, was the Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget during the Clinton administration.