James Sweeney (Indiana)

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James R. Sweeney II
Image of James R. Sweeney II

Nonpartisan

United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
Tenure

2018 - Present

Years in position

6

Education

Bachelor's

United States Naval Academy, 1983

Law

University of Notre Dame Law School, 1996

Personal
Birthplace
Indianapolis, Ind.
Contact

Official website

Personal LinkedIn


James Russell Sweeney II is a judge on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. He was nominated to the court by President Donald Trump (R) on November 1, 2017, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 28, 2018, by a voice vote.[1][2][3] To see a full list of judges appointed by Donald Trump, click here.

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana 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.

Prior to his judicial appointment, Sweeney was a partner at the Indianapolis, Indiana-based office of Barnes and Thornburg LLP.[2]

Judicial nominations and appointments

United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana

See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump

Sweeney was nominated to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana by President Donald Trump (R) on November 1, 2017. The U.S. Senate confirmed Sweeney on August 28, 2018, by a voice vote.[3] He received commission on September 13, 2018.[1] To read more about the federal nomination process, click here.

Nomination Tracker
Fedbadgesmall.png
Nominee Information
Name: James R. Sweeney II
Court: United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
Progress
Confirmed 300 days after nomination.
ApprovedANominated: November 1, 2017
ApprovedAABA Rating: Unanimously Well Qualified
Questionnaire: Questionnaire
ApprovedAHearing: January 10, 2018
QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
ApprovedAReported: February 8, 2018 
ApprovedAConfirmed: August 28, 2018


Confirmation vote

The U.S. Senate confirmed Sweeney on August 28, 2018, by voice vote.[3]

Senate Judiciary Committee hearing

Sweeney had his hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on January 10, 2018. The committee voted to advance Sweeney's nomination to the full Senate on February 8, 2018.[3]

Nomination

Sweeney was nominated to replace Judge Sarah Barker, who assumed senior status on June 30, 2014.

The American Bar Association unanimously rated Sweeney well qualified for the position.[4] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.

Education

Sweeney earned his bachelor's degree with merit from the United States Naval Academy in 1983. He earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 1996. During his legal studies, Sweeney served as editor-in-chief of the Notre Dame Law Review.[2][5]

Military service

Upon earning his bachelor's degree from the United States Naval Academy, Sweeney accepted a commission in the U.S. Marine Corps and served on active duty from 1983 to 1992. Sweeney retired from the Marine Corps with the rank of colonel. He served in the Marine Corps Reserve from 1992 to 2013.[2][5][6]

Professional career

About the court

Southern District of Indiana
Seventh Circuit
IN-SD.jpeg
Judgeships
Posts: 5
Judges: 4
Vacancies: 1
Judges
Chief: Tanya Walton Pratt
Active judges: Matthew Brookman, James Patrick Hanlon, Tanya Walton Pratt, James R. Sweeney II

Senior judges:
Sarah Barker, William Lawrence, Jane Magnus-Stinson, Richard Young


The United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana is one of 94 United States district courts. It was created in 1928 by an act of Congress that split Indiana into two separate districts. The district has courthouses in Indianapolis, Terre Haute, Evenasville, and New Albany, Indiana. When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit based in Chicago, Illinois, at the Everett M. Dirksen Federal Courthouse and Building.

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

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

The Indianapolis Division, covering Bartholomew, Boone, Brown, Clinton, Decatur, Delaware, Fayette, Fountain, Franklin, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Henry, Howard, Johnson, Madison, Marion, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Randolph, Rush, Shelby, Tipton, Union and Wayne counties.[7]

The Terre Haute Division, covering Clay, Greene, Knox, Owen, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, Vermillion and Vigo counties.[7]

The Evansville Division, covering Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Martin, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh and Warrick counties.[7]

The New Albany Division, covering Clark, Crawford, Dearborn, Floyd, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Lawrence, Ohio, Orange, Ripley, Scott, Switzerland and Washington counties.[7]

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

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Federal Judicial Center, "Sweeney, James Russell II," accessed September 14, 2018
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 The White House, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Nomination of Indiana Attorney James Sweeney to Fill Judicial Emergency," November 1, 2017
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 United States Congress, "PN 1198 — James R. Sweeney II — The Judiciary," accessed April 22, 2020
  4. ↑ American Bar Association, "Ratings of Article III and Article IV judicial nominees," accessed April 22, 2020
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Barnes and Thornburg LLP, "James R. Sweeney II, Partner," accessed November 2, 2017
  6. ↑ Federal Judicial Center, "Sweeney, James Russell II," accessed August 29, 2018
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 U.S. Marshals Service-Southern District of Indiana

Political offices
Preceded by
- 		United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
2018-Present		 Succeeded by
-


Indiana courts

Federal courts:

Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Northern District of Indiana, Southern District of Indiana • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Northern District of Indiana, Southern District of Indiana

State courts:

Indiana Supreme Court • Indiana Court of Appeals • Indiana Superior Courts • Indiana Circuit Courts • Indiana City Courts • Indiana County Courts • Indiana Municipal Courts • Indiana Small Claims Courts • St. Joseph County Probate Court • Indiana Tax Court • Indiana Town Courts

State resources:

Courts in Indiana • Indiana judicial elections • Judicial selection in Indiana

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