Patrick Higginbotham

Patrick Higginbotham

Nonpartisan

United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit (senior status)

Tenure

2006 - Present

Years in position

18

Prior offices

United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas

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United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit

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Education

Bachelor's

University of Alabama, 1960

Law

University of Alabama School of Law, 1961

Personal

Birthplace

Alabama

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Patrick Errol Higginbotham is a federal judge on senior status with the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. He joined the court in 1982 after being nominated by President Ronald Reagan.

Education

Higginbotham graduated from the University of Alabama with his bachelor's degree in 1960 and from the University of Alabama School of Law with his LL.B. in 1961.

Military service

Higginbotham served as a judge advocate in the U.S. Air Force from 1961 to 1964.

Professional career

• 1976: Adjunct professor of constitutional law, Southern Methodist University Law School
• 1964-1975: Private practice, Dallas, Texas

Judicial career

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

Nomination Tracker
Nominee Information
Name: Patrick E. Higginbotham
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit
Progress
Confirmed 26 days after nomination.
ANominated: July 1, 1982
AABA Rating:
Questionnaire:
AHearing: July 14, 1982
QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
AReported: July 26, 1982
AConfirmed: July 27, 1982
AVote: Unanimous consent

Higginbotham was nominated to the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit by President Ronald Reagan on July 1, 1982, to a seat vacated by Reynaldo Garza as Garza assumed senior status. Hearings on Higginbotham's nomination were held before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary on July 14, 1982, and his nomination was reported by U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.) on July 26, 1982. Higginbotham was confirmed by the unanimous consent of the U.S. Senate on July 27, 1982, and he received his commission on July 30, 1982. He assumed senior status on August 28, 2006. He was succeeded in this position by Judge Jennifer Elrod.

Northern District of Texas

Higginbotham was nominated to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas by President Gerald Ford on December 2, 1975, to a seat vacated by Judge Sarah Hughes. Higginbotham was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December 12, 1975, and he received his commission the same day. Higginbotham resigned from the district court on August 3, 1982, upon his elevation to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Higginbotham was succeeded in this position by Judge Joe Fish.

See also

• United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit

External links

• Judge Higginbotham's biography from the Federal Judicial Center

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by: Sarah Hughes	Northern District of Texas 1975–1982 Seat #5	Succeeded by: Joe Fish
Preceded by: Reynaldo Garza	Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals 1982–present	Succeeded by: Jennifer Elrod