Theodore Chuang

Nomination Tracker
Nominee Information
	Name: Theodore Chuang
	Court: District of Maryland
Progress
	Confirmed 218 days after nomination.
	Nominated: September 25, 2013
	ABA Rating: Substantial Majority Well Qualified, Minority Qualified
	Questionnaire: Questionnaire
	Hearing: December 19, 2013
	QFRs: QFRs (Hover over QFRs to read more)
	Reported: January 16, 2014
	Confirmed: May 1, 2014
	Vote: 53-42

float:right;
border:1px solid #FFB81F;
background-color: white;
width: 250px;
font-size: .9em;
margin-bottom:0px;

} .infobox p { margin-bottom: 0; } .widget-row { display: inline-block; width: 100%; margin-top: 1px; margin-bottom: 1px; } .widget-row.heading { font-size: 1.2em; } .widget-row.value-only { text-align: center; background-color: grey; color: white; font-weight: bold; } .widget-row.value-only.white { background-color: #f9f9f9; } .widget-row.value-only.black { background-color: #f9f9f9; color: black; } .widget-row.Democratic { background-color: #003388; color: white; font-weight: bold; } .widget-row.Republican { background-color: red; color: white; font-weight: bold; } .widget-row.Independent, .widget-row.Nonpartisan, .widget-row.Constitution { background-color: grey; color: white; font-weight: bold; } .widget-row.Libertarian { background-color: #f9d334; color: black; font-weight: bold; } .widget-row.Green { background-color: green; color: white; font-weight: bold; } .widget-key { width: 43%; display: inline-block; padding-left: 10px; vertical-align: top; font-weight: bold; } .widget-value { width: 57%; float: right; display: inline-block; padding-left: 10px; word-wrap: break-word; } .widget-img { width: 150px; display: block; margin: auto; } .clearfix { clear: both; }

Theodore Chuang is a federal judge for the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. Prior to joining the court, he was the Deputy General Counsel of the United States Department of Homeland Security and was nominated by President Barack Obama to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.^[1] The United States Senate confirmed Chuang on May 1, 2014 on a vote of 53-42.^[2]

Education

Chuang graduated from Harvard with his B.A., summa cum laude in 1991 and his J.D., magna cum laude in 1994.^[1]

Professional career

2009-2014: Deputy General Counsel of the United States Department of Homeland Security
2007-2009: Deputy Chief Investigative Counsel for the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
2004-2007: Attorney, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr LLP
1998-2004: Assistant United States Attorney, District of Massachusetts
1995-1998: Trial Attorney, Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice
1994-1995: Law Clerk, Hon. Dorothy Nelson, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals^[1]

Judicial career

District of Maryland

Theodore Chuang was nominated by President Barack Obama to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Maryland on September 25, 2013. The seat was vacated by Roger Titus when he assumed senior status on January 17, 2014. The President had this to say about the nomination,

“

Throughout their careers, these nominees have displayed unwavering commitment to justice and integrity... Their records of public service are distinguished and impressive and I am confident that they will serve the American people well from the United States District Court bench. I am honored to nominate them today.^[1]^[3]

”

The American Bar Association rated Chuang Well Qualified by a substantial majority and Qualified by a minority.^[4]

Chuang had a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on December 19, 2013.^[5]

Chuang's nomination was returned by the Senate on January 3, 2014, and he was renominated on January 6th by President Obama.^[6]

Chuang's nomination was reported to the full Senate on January 16, 2014 by the Senate Judiciary Committee on a 10-8 vote.^[7] The Senate confirmed Chuang on May 1, 2014 on a vote of 53-42.^[2]

Reactions to nomination

Senator Barbara Mikulski:

“

I was proud to recommend Mr. Chuang and Mr. Hazel to President Obama and am so pleased that they were both nominated to the United States District Court of Maryland... When I consider nominees for the federal bench, I have four criteria: absolute integrity, judicial competence and temperament; a commitment to core constitutional principles, and a history of civic engagement in Maryland. Both of these nominees meet and exceed these standards. Both Mr. Chuang and Mr. Hazel possess the qualities that are needed to make sure the rights of ordinary Americans are protected and have the experience that will allow them serve with an open mind and adhere to the rule of law.^[8]^[3]

”

Senator Ben Cardin:

“

I am confident that Mr. Chuang and Mr. Hazel will make outstanding judges and serve the people of Maryland well... Both have a strong record helping to provide access to justice to low-income residents in our state. Mr. Chuang has a broad range of legal experience in all three branches of the federal government, and is the son of immigrants from Taiwan who came to America seeking freedom and a better life for their family. Mr. Hazel has fought to keep our communities safe as a prosecutor, and is an active member of local organizations.^[8]^[3]

”

The President of the Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Mee Moua, said,

“

We applaud President Obama on this historic nomination to the federal bench and thank Senator Mikulski for her support of Theo Chuang...Mr. Chuang is eminently qualified and would make an excellent addition to the federal judiciary in Maryland. We urge the Senate to confirm him swiftly.^[9]^[3]

”

Noteworthy cases

Executive order ruling - March 16, 2017

On March 6, 2017, President Donald Trump issued an executive order, Protecting The Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into The United States, that rescinded and replaced his January 27 executive order of the same name. The order suspended for 90 days entry into the United States for individuals from Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. The order also suspended refugee admissions to the United States for 120 days while the process was reviewed for additional national security measures that could be implemented. The order was set to go into effect on March 16, 2017.

Differences from the January 27 order included removing Iraq from the list of countries subject to the entry suspension, specifying that current visa holders were not affected, removing the indefinite suspension on admitting Syrian refugees, and allowing entry for refugees who had already been granted asylum.

On March 15, 2017, in response to a legal challenge from the state of Hawaii, U.S. District Court Judge Derrick Watson blocked the implementation of Section 2 and Section 6 of the executive order with a nationwide temporary restraining order.^[10]

On March 16, 2017, Judge Theodore Chuang issued a nationwide preliminary injunction against the order. According to a report in USA Today about Chaung's order, "Like Watson, he determined that Trump's executive order was 'the realization of the long-envisioned Muslim ban' and also pointed to comments made by Trump throughout his campaign. Chuang granted a preliminary injunction on a nationwide basis, but declined to stay the ruling should an emergency appeal be filed."^[11]

The Fourth Circuit upheld Judge Chuang's order, but on October 10, 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a summary disposition in the case in which the court vacated the judgment of the Fourth Circuit and remanded the matter back to the lower court with instructions to dismiss the case as moot.

See also: Federal policy on immigration, 2017-2020

See also: Trump v. International Refugee Assistance Project