Stephanie A. Gallagher

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Stephanie A. Gallagher
Image of Stephanie A. Gallagher

Nonpartisan

United States District Court for the District of Maryland
Tenure

2019 - Present

Years in position

5

Prior offices
United States District Court for the District of Maryland

Education

Bachelor's

Georgetown University, 1994

Law

Harvard Law School, 1997

Contact

Official website 

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Stephanie A. Gallagher is a judge on the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. On June 11, 2018, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Gallagher to an Article III seat on this court.[1] The U.S. Senate confirmed Gallagher by voice vote on September 11, 2019.[2] She received commission on September 13, 2019.[3] To see a full list of judges appointed by Donald Trump, click here.

The United States District Court for the District of Maryland is one of 94 U.S. District Courts. They are the general trial courts of the United States federal courts. To learn more about the court, click here.

President Barack Obama (D) nominated Gallagher to be elevated to federal judge for the District of Maryland on September 8, 2015.[4] On January 3, 2017, Gallagher's nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the 114th Congress.[5]

Gallagher was a federal magistrate judge for the United States District Court for the District of Maryland from 2011 to 2019. She joined the court on April 18, 2011.[6]

Judicial nominations and appointments

United States District Court for the District of Maryland (2019-present)

See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump

Gallagher was nominated by President Donald Trump (R) on June 11, 2018, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.[1] The U.S. Senate confirmed Gallagher by voice vote on September 11, 2019.[2] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.

Nomination Tracker
Fedbadgesmall.png
Nominee Information
Name: Stephanie A. Gallagher
Court: United States District Court for the District of Maryland
Progress
Confirmed 457 days after nomination.
ApprovedANominated: June 11, 2018
ApprovedAABA Rating: Unanimously well qualified
Questionnaire: (2015) Questionnaire
ApprovedAHearing: No hearings held
QFRs: (2015) QFRs (Hover over QFRs to read more)
ApprovedAReported: October 11, 2018 (first)
June 20, 2019 (second) 
ApprovedAConfirmed: September 11, 2019
ApprovedAVote: Voice vote


Confirmation vote

The U.S. Senate confirmed Gallagher on September 11, 2019, by voice vote.[2]

Change in Senate rules
See also:
Filibuster and reconciliation in the United States Congress
Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump
United States federal courts

Gallagher was confirmed to a U.S. District Court under a new precedent the Senate established.

On April 3, 2019, the U.S. Senate voted 51-48 in favor of a change to chamber precedent lowering the maximum time allowed for debate on executive nominees to posts below the Cabinet level and on nominees to district court judgeships from 30 hours after invoking cloture to two.[7]

The change was passed under a procedure, often referred to as the nuclear option, that requires 51 votes rather than 60.[8]

It was the third use of the nuclear option in Senate history. In 2013, it was used to eliminate the 60-vote threshold to confirm presidential nominees, except those to the Supreme Court. In 2017, it was used to eliminate the 60-vote threshold required to confirm Supreme Court nominees.[9] For more, see Filibuster and reconciliation in the United States Congress.


Senate Judiciary Committee vote

On October 11, 2018, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 20-1 to advance Gallagher's nomination to the full Senate.[10] The committee voted a second time, 21-1, on June 20, 2019, to advance her nomination to the full Senate.[11]

Nomination

On June 7, 2018, President Donald Trump (R) announced his intent to nominate Gallagher to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.[12] Gallagher was officially nominated on June 11, 2018. The president nominated Gallagher to succeed Judge William Quarles, who assumed senior status on February 1, 2016.[1]

At the sine die adjournment of the 115th Congress on January 3, 2019, the Senate returned Gallagher's nomination to the president.[1][13]

Trump announced his intent to renominate Gallagher on April 8, 2019.[14] The second nomination was officially sent to the Senate on May 21, 2019.[15]

Sens. Ben Cardin (D) and Chris Van Hollen (D) of Maryland applauded Gallagher's nomination. In a statement, Cardin said, "I was pleased to recommend Judge Gallagher’s nomination to both President Obama and President Trump, and I am confident that she will serve the people of Maryland well once confirmed as a U.S. District Judge for the District of Maryland." Van Hollen said, "I was proud to recommend her to the Administration with my full support, and I will continue to push forward her confirmation in the Senate. She will be an excellent asset to our state and country in the role as a U.S. District Judge for the District of Maryland."[16]

The American Bar Association unanimously rated Gallagher well qualified for the position.[17] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.

United States District Court for the District of Maryland (2015)

See also: Federal judges nominated by Barack Obama

Gallagher was nominated to the United States District Court for the District of Maryland by President Barack Obama on September 8, 2015.[4] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.

Senate Judiciary Committee hearing

Hearings on Gallagher's nomination were held in the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary on April 20, 2016, and her nomination was reported by U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) on May 19, 2016.[18][19]

  • Click here to access Gallagher's committee questionnaire.
  • Click here to access Gallagher's questions for the record.

Nomination

Gallagher was nominated by President Barack Obama (D) on September 8, 2015, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.[12] The president nominated Gallagher to succeed Judge William Quarles, who assumed senior status on February 1, 2016.[5]

At the sine die adjournment of the 114th Congress on January 3, 2017, the Senate returned Gallagher's nomination to the president.[5][13]

The American Bar Association unanimously rated Gallagher well qualified for the nomination.[20] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.

United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Magistrate (2011-2019)

Gallagher was appointed as a part-time federal magistrate judge on April 18, 2011.[6][21]

Early life and education

Born in 1972 in Rockville, Connecticut, Gallagher earned her bachelor's degree from Georgetown University, graduating magna cum laude in 1994. She obtained her J.D. from Harvard Law School, graduating cum laude in 1997.[6]

Professional career

Awards and associations

Awards

  • 2008: Certificate of appreciation, Baltimore Police Department
  • 2008: Commendation plaque, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  • 2008: Award and clock, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms
  • 2007: Commendation plaque, Immigration & Customs Enforcement
  • 2004: Litigation award, United States Attorney's Office[22]

Associations

  • Member, Board of Governors of the Federal Bar Association, Maryland Chapter
  • Member, The Barristers Law Club
  • Member, The Wednesday Law Club[6]

About the court

District of Maryland
Fourth Circuit
Maryland District.jpeg
Judgeships
Posts: 10
Judges: 10
Vacancies: 0
Judges
Chief: George L. Russell, III
Active judges: Adam Abelson, Deborah Boardman, Theodore Chuang, Stephanie A. Gallagher, Lydia Kay Griggsby, Brendan Hurson, Matthew Maddox, Julie Rubin, George L. Russell III, Paula Xinis

Senior judges:
Richard Bennett, Catherine Blake, James Bredar, Deborah Chasanow, Ellen Hollander, Peter Messitte, William Nickerson


The United States District Court for the District of Maryland is one of 94 United States district courts. When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit based in downtown Richmond, Virginia, at the Lewis F. Powell Federal Courthouse.

The District of Maryland has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.

There are two court divisions, each covering the following counties:

The Baltimore (Northern) Division, covering Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Balitmore City, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Dorchester, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico, and Worcester counties

The Greenbelt (Southern) Division, covering Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George's, and St. Mary's counties

To read opinions published by this court, click here.

The federal nomination process

Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:

  • The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
  • The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
  • The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.
  • As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.
  • After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.
  • If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
  • If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.
  • The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.
  • If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
  • If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.


See also

External links

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Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Congress.gov, "PN2115 — Stephanie A. Gallagher — The Judiciary," accessed April 9, 2019
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Congress.gov, "PN774 — Stephanie A. Gallagher — The Judiciary," accessed September 11, 2019
  3. ↑ Federal Judicial Center, "Gallagher, Stephanie Agli," accessed September 16, 2019
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 The White House, "President Obama Nominates Three to Serve on the United States District Courts," September 8, 2015
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 United States Congress, "PN 774 — Stephanie A. Gallagher — The Judiciary," accessed January 3, 2017
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 United States District Court for the District of Maryland, "Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher," accessed April 9, 2019
  7. ↑ The Hill, "GOP triggers 'nuclear option' to speed up Trump picks," April 3, 2019
  8. ↑ Axios, "Senate GOP invokes 'nuclear option' to speed up confirmations of Trump nominees," April 3, 2019
  9. ↑ NBC News, "McConnell to use 'nuclear option' to confirm lower-level nominees," April 2, 2019
  10. ↑ U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, "Results of the Executive Business Meeting," October 11, 2018
  11. ↑ U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, "Results of Executive Business Meeting," June 20, 2019
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 WhiteHouse.gov, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Fifteenth Wave of Judicial Nominees, Fourteenth Wave of United States Attorney Nominees, and Ninth Wave of United States Marshal Nominees," June 7, 2018
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Under Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate, pending nominations are returned to the president if the Senate adjourns sine die or recesses for more than 30 days. Congressional Research Service, "Senate Consideration of Presidential Nominations: Committee and Floor Procedure," April 11, 2017
  14. ↑ White House, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Judicial Nominations," April 8, 2019
  15. ↑ White House, "Twelve Nominations Sent to the Senate," May 21, 2019
  16. ↑ Ben Cardin, U.S. Senator for Maryland, "Cardin, Van Hollen Praise Nominee Stephanie Gallagher For Federal District Court Seat in Maryland," June 7, 2018
  17. ↑ American Bar Association, "Ratings of Article III and Article IV judicial nominees, 115th Congress," accessed October 11, 2018
  18. ↑ U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, "Nominations," April 20, 2016
  19. ↑ United States Senate, "Pending nominations on the executive calendar (civilian)," May 19, 2016
  20. ↑ American Bar Association, "Ratings of Article III Judicial Nominees: 114th Congress," accessed September 15, 2015
  21. ↑ United States Courts, "Third Branch News: Judicial Milestones," May 2011
  22. ↑ U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, "Questionnaire for judicial nominees: Stephanie A. Gallagher," accessed April 9, 2019

Political offices
Preceded by
- 		United States District Court for the District of Maryland
2019-Present		 Succeeded by
-
Preceded by
- 		United States District Court for the District of Maryland
2011-2019		 Succeeded by
-


Maryland courts

Federal courts:

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Maryland • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Maryland

State courts:

Maryland Supreme Court • Appellate Court of Maryland • Maryland District Courts • Maryland Circuit Courts • Maryland Orphans' Court

State resources:

Courts in Maryland • Maryland judicial elections • Judicial selection in Maryland

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