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Kevin G. Ritz

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Kevin G. Ritz
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
Incumbent
Assumed office
September 19, 2024
Appointed byJoe Biden
Preceded byJulia Smith Gibbons
United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee
In office
September 28, 2022 – September 18, 2024
Appointed byJoe Biden
Preceded byJoe Murphy (acting)
Succeeded byReagan Taylor Fondren (acting)
Personal details
Born
Kevin Gafford Ritz[1]

(1974-10-15) October 15, 1974 (age 50)
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.[2]
EducationUniversity of Virginia (BA, JD)
Georgetown University (MS)

Kevin Gafford Ritz (born October 15, 1974) is an American lawyer who has served as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit since 2024. He previously served as the United States attorney for the Western District of Tennessee September 2022 to September 2024.

Education

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A native of Memphis, Ritz graduated from White Station High School.[3] Ritz received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia in 1997, where he was a Jefferson Scholar. He later received a Master of Science from Georgetown University in 1999, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2004.[4]

Career

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From 2004 to 2005, Ritz served as a law clerk for Judge Julia Smith Gibbons of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. In 2005, he became an assistant United States attorney in the United States Attorney's office for the Western District of Tennessee.[4] Ritz worked as a prosecutor in drug trafficking[5] and gun-related crimes before moving to appellate law later in his career. He appeared as counsel in United States v. Castleman.[6]

U.S. attorney for the Western District of Tennessee

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On July 29, 2022, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Ritz to be the United States attorney for the Western District of Tennessee.[6] On August 1, 2022, his nomination was sent to the United States Senate, and the nomination was confirmed on September 22, 2022, by voice vote.[7] Ritz was sworn in by Chief Judge S. Thomas Anderson on September 28, 2022.[8] On September 18, 2024, he resigned as the US Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee to serve as a circuit judge of the Sixth Circuit.[9]

Federal judicial service

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On March 20, 2024, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Ritz to serve as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.[10] His nomination drew opposition from Senator Marsha Blackburn, who said the White House had abandoned discussions with her and fellow Tennessee senator Bill Hagerty about finding a nominee for the position.[11][12] On March 21, 2024, his nomination was sent to the Senate. President Biden nominated Ritz to the seat being vacated by Judge Julia Smith Gibbons, who announced her intent to assume senior status upon confirmation of a successor.[13] On April 17, 2024, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.[14] During his confirmation hearing, Republican senators questioned Ritz about an ethics complaint filed against him during his tenure as an Assistant United States Attorney. The complaint, brought by defense counsel, alleged that Ritz had misrepresented charges during a plea agreement in a criminal case. Ritz responded by stating that he was unaware of the ethics complaint at the time. Additionally, he faced inquiries about why federal gun charges were not pursued against a suspect allegedly involved in the fatal shooting of Memphis police officer Joseph McKinney.[15] On May 9, 2024, his nomination was reported out of committee by an 11–10 party-line vote.[16] On September 12, 2024, the United States Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 49–42 vote, with Senator Kyrsten Sinema voting against the motion.[17] On September 16, 2024, his nomination was confirmed by a 48–46 vote, with Senator Sinema voting against confirmation.[18][19] He received his judicial commission on September 19, 2024.[20]

References

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  1. ^ "Kevin Gafford Ritz Profile". www.martindale.com. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  2. ^ "Western District of Tennessee | Kevin Ritz Sworn in as United States Attorney | United States Department of Justice". www.justice.gov. September 28, 2022.
  3. ^ "Congressman Cohen Applauds Senate Confirmation of Kevin G. Ritz | Congressman Steve Cohen". cohen.house.gov. September 22, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: "President Biden Announces Three New Nominees to Serve as U.S. Attorneys, One to Serve as U.S. Marshal" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. July 29, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  5. ^ "U.S. Attorney Ritz discusses role, talks issues across West Tennessee". April 11, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Finton, Lucas (July 29, 2022). "President Joe Biden nominates former assistant U.S. attorney to top spot in Memphis". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  7. ^ "PN2442 – Nomination of Kevin G. Ritz for Department of Justice, 117th Congress (2021–2022)". United States Congress. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  8. ^ "Kevin Ritz Sworn in as United States Attorney". United States Department of Justice. September 28, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  9. ^ "United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz Announces Resignation". justice.gov (Press release). Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  10. ^ "President Biden Names Forty-Seventh Round of Judicial Nominees and Announces One New Nominee to Serve as U.S. Marshal" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. March 20, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  11. ^ Raymond, Nate. "Biden nominates Tennessee prosecutor to US appeals court". Reuters. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  12. ^ Finton, Lucas. "Biden taps U.S. Attorney for Western District Kevin Ritz as Sixth Circuit Judge nominee". commericalappeal.com. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  13. ^ "Nominations Sent to the Senate" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. March 20, 2024.
  14. ^ "Nominations". Washington, D.C.: United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. April 16, 2024.
  15. ^ Headley, Tiana (April 17, 2024). "Biden Sixth Circuit Pick Pressured by Republicans on Ethics (1)". news.bloomberglaw.com. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  16. ^ "Senate Judiciary Committee Advances the Protecting Older Americans Act, Four Judicial Nominations to the Full Senate" (Press release). United States Senate Judiciary Committee. May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  17. ^ "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture: Kevin Gafford Ritz to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit)". United States Senate. September 12, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  18. ^ "On the Nomination (Confirmation: Kevin Gafford Ritz, of Tennessee, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit)". United States Senate. September 16, 2024. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  19. ^ Raymond, Nate. "Biden's pick of Tennessee prosecutor confirmed to join US appeals court". Reuters. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  20. ^ Kevin G. Ritz at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
[edit]
Legal offices
Preceded by
Joe Murphy
Acting
 United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee
2022–2024 		Succeeded by
Reagan Taylor Fondren
Acting
Preceded by Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
2024–present 		Incumbent
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