William M. Nickerson

William Nickerson

Do you have a photo that could go here? Click here to submit it for this profile!

---

Nonpartisan

United States District Court for the District of Maryland (senior status)

Tenure

2002 - Present

Years in position

22

Prior offices

United States District Court for the District of Maryland

---

Education

Bachelor's

University of Virginia, 1955

Law

University of Maryland Law, 1962

Personal

Birthplace

Baltimore, Md.

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; }

William M. Nickerson is an Article III federal judge for the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. He joined the court in 1990 after being nominated by President George H.W. Bush. He is serving on senior status.

Early life and education

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Nickerson graduated from the University of Virginia with his bachelor's degree in 1955 and later from the University of Maryland School of Law with his LL.B in 1962.

Nickerson served on active duty in the United States Coast Guard from 1955 to 1959.

Professional career

Nickerson was a private practice attorney in Maryland from 1962 to 1985 before becoming an Associate Circuit Court Judge for Baltimore County from 1985 to 1990.

Judicial career

Nickerson was nominated to the United States District Court for the District of Maryland by President George H.W. Bush on January 24, 1990 to a seat vacated by Herbert Murray as Murray went on senior status. Nickerson was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 11, 1990 and received commission on May 14, 1990. Nickerson was succeeded in this position by William Quarles.

Noteworthy cases

Ex-stripper entitled to back pay as employee (2013)

See also: United States District Court for the District of Maryland (Unique S. Butler v. PP&G, Inc., WMN-13-430)

Senior Judge Nickerson presided over a case filed by Unique S. Butler, who worked as an exotic dancer at Norma Jean's in Baltimore, Maryland, from 2007 to the summer of 2012. After being fired, Butler sued the club and its parent company, alleging violations of state and federal labor laws. Like many strip clubs, Norma Jeans's classified its dancers as independent contractors, without paying hourly wages. Butler earned income solely from customer tips. Because Norma Jean's had strict control over the club's operation, and thus Butler's "economic opportunity," and because Butler's services performed were integral to the club's operation, Senior Judge Nickerson ruled that she should be classified as an employee deserving of unpaid wages under federal labor law.

See also

• United States District Court for the District of Maryland

External links

• Judge William Nickerson Biography at the Federal Judicial Center (dead link)
• The Robing Room- Rate Judge Nickerson

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by: Herbert Murray	District of Maryland 1990–2002 Seat #2T	Succeeded by: William Quarles

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