Virginia Covington

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Virginia Covington

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United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida (senior status)
Tenure

2020 - Present

Years in position

4

Prior offices
United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida

Education

Bachelor's

University of Tampa, 1976

Graduate

University of Tampa, 1977

Law

Georgetown University Law Center, 1980

Personal
Birthplace
Tampa, Fla.

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Virginia Maria Hernandez Convington is an Article III federal judge on senior status on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. She joined the court in 2004 after being nominated by President George W. Bush (R). Covington assumed senior status on July 12, 2020.[1]

Covington was succeeded by Kathryn Kimball Mizelle, who was nominated by President Donald Trump (R) and confirmed on November 18, 2020.

Early life and education

A Florida native, Covington graduated from the University of Tampa with her bachelor's degree and master's of business administration (M.B.A.) in 1976 and 1977, respectively, and graduated from Georgetown University School of Law in 1980.[1]

Professional career

Covington started her legal career in 1980 in Washington, D.C. as a trial attorney for the Federal Trade Commission. She served there for a year before moving back to Florida to become an assistant state's attorney in Florida's 13th Judicial Circuit. She served in this capacity from 1982 to 1983. In 1983, Covington joined the U.S. Attorney's Office of Middle Florida where she served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Civil Division until 1988 and then as the lead attorney of the Asset Forfeiture Section in the Criminal Division from 1989 to 2001. In 2001, Covington was appointed to a seat on Florida's Second Circuit Court of Appeals by then-Governor Jeb Bush (R). She held that seat until her appointment to the federal bench in 2004.[1]

Judicial career

Middle District of Florida

Convington was nominated by President George W. Bush (R) on April 20, 2004, to a judgeship vacated by Ralph Nimmons. Covington was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on September 7, 2004, and received commission on September 10, 2004. She assumed senior status on July 12, 2020.[1] Covington was succeeded by Kathryn Kimball Mizelle, who was nominated by President Donald Trump (R) and confirmed on November 18, 2020.

Stringer case recusal

On July 23, 2009 Judge Covington recused herself from a case involving former Florida District Courts of Appeal judge Thomas Stringer because of her association with him. Covington sent a letter to the clerk of court asking the case to be re-assigned as they had served together in the Florida Court of Appeals from 2001 to 2004. Stringer was charged with hiding the assets of an exotic dancer, and pleaded guilty.[2][3]

See also

External links


Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by:
Ralph Nimmons
Middle District of Florida
2004–2020
Seat #10
Succeeded by:
Kathryn Kimball Mizelle