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Bruce Marshall Selya

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Bruce Marshall Selya
Image of Bruce Marshall Selya

Nonpartisan

United States Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit (senior status)
Tenure

2006 - Present

Years in position

18

Prior offices
United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island
United States Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit

Education

Bachelor's

Harvard University, 1955

Law

Harvard Law School, 1958

Personal
Birthplace
Providence, R.I.


Bruce Marshall Selya (b. 1931) is a federal judge on senior status with the United States Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit. He joined the court in 1986 after being nominated by President Ronald Reagan. Prior to his service on the First Circuit, Selya served on the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island. He joined the district court in 1982 after an appointment from Ronald Reagan. Selya assumed senior status on December 31, 2006.[1]

Early life and education

Born in Providence, R.I., Selya graduated from Harvard University with his bachelor's degree in 1955, and from Harvard Law School with his J.D. in 1958.[1]

Professional career

Judicial nominations and appointments

U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

Selya was nominated to the United States Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit by Ronald Reagan on September 26, 1986, to a new seat created by 98 Stat. 333. Selya was confirmed by the Senate on October 8, 1986, on a voice vote and he received his commission on October 14, 1986. Selya assumed senior status on December 31, 2006.[1]

District of Rhode Island

Selya was nominated to the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island by Ronald Reagan on July 27, 1982, to fill a seat vacated by Raymond Pettine. Selya was confirmed by the Senate on August 18, 1982, and he received his commission on August 18, 1982. He left the court upon his elevation to the First Circuit and his vacancy was filled by Ernest Torres.[1]

Noteworthy cases

Stolen gun liability case (2012)
See also: United States Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit (Jones v. Secord, 11-1576)

On July 6, 2012, a three judge panel for the United States Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit upheld the ruling of Judge Paul Barbadoro of the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire, who held that a New Hampshire man could not be held liable for the use of his handgun in a violent crime. Gail Jones, the mother of a shooting victim, filed a lawsuit alleging that Lawrence Secord was liable for the use of his handgun by his grandson in an armed robbery that resulted in three fatalities in 2007. Secord's gun was stolen by his grandson, who broke into a locked summer cabin to obtain the firearm. Barbadoro agreed with Secord that he had taken proper precautions to secure his firearm. Judge Bruce Marshall Selya agreed, writing the opinion of the panel, which consisted of judges Jeffrey R. Howard and O. Rogeriee Thompson. He stated in the opinion, "The record here, even when construed in the light most flattering to the plaintiff, does not show either a particularized risk of harm or a degree of foreseeability sufficient to animate this exception." Jones told the press she brought the lawsuit on to raise awareness of gun storage and risk, telling the press, "Firearms are very dangerous when they're in the wrong hands."[2][3]

See also

External links


Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Federal Judicial Center, "Biographical directory of federal judges," accessed May 10, 2016
  2. ↑ Boston.com, "Court says gun owner not negligent in NH shooting" July 9, 2012
  3. ↑ Justia, "Opinion, Jones v. Secord," accessed May 1, 2015
Political offices
Preceded by:
Raymond Pettine 		District of Rhode Island
1982–1986
Seat #2 		Succeeded by:
Ernest Torres
Preceded by:
NA - new seat 		First Circuit
1986–2006
Seat #6 		Succeeded by:
O. Rogeriee Thompson




Rhode Island courts

Federal courts:

First Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Rhode Island • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Rhode Island

State courts:

Rhode Island Supreme Court • Rhode Island Superior Court • Rhode Island District Court • Rhode Island Family Court • Rhode Island Workers' Compensation Court • Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal

State resources:

Courts in Rhode Island • Rhode Island judicial elections • Judicial selection in Rhode Island

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