Allison Jones Rushing
{{Short description|American judge (born 1982)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Allison Jones Rushing
| image = Allison Jones Rushing (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Rushing in 2022
| office = Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
| term_start = March 21, 2019
| term_end =
| appointer = Donald Trump
| predecessor = Allyson K. Duncan
| successor =
| birth_name = Allison Blair Jones
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1982}}
| birth_place = Hendersonville, North Carolina, U.S.
| party = Republican
| spouse = {{marriage|Blake Rushing|2016}}
| education = Wake Forest University (BA)
Duke University (JD)
}}
Allison Jones Rushing (born 1982){{cite web|url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Rushing%20SJQ.pdf|title=United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary: Questionnaire for Judicial Nominees: Allison Jones Rushing|website=Judiciary.senate.gov|access-date=November 5, 2018}} is an American attorney and jurist serving as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit since 2019.
Early life and education
Born in Hendersonville, North Carolina, Rushing graduated from East Henderson High School in East Flat Rock, North Carolina.{{Cite web|url=https://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20070629/News/606056708|title=Graduates|website=Hendersonville Times-News}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Rushing studied music at Wake Forest University, graduating in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, and was in Phi Beta Kappa. She then attended the Duke University School of Law, where she was an executive editor of the Duke Law Journal. She graduated in 2007 with a Juris Doctor, magna cum laude.{{cite web |title=Giles Harris Winners 2003 |url=http://college.wfu.edu/music/program/performance-opportunities/giles-harris-winners-2003/ |publisher=Wake Forest University, College of Music |access-date=August 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829072641/http://college.wfu.edu/music/program/performance-opportunities/giles-harris-winners-2003/ |archive-date=August 29, 2018 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |title=Class Notes—2004 |url=https://prod.wp.cdn.aws.wfu.edu/sites/43/2017/05/WF-Mag_Summer-17_web.pdf |date=Summer 2017 |work=Wake Forest Magazine |access-date=August 28, 2018 |page=88}}
Career
In 2005, Rushing was a law student intern at the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a conservative Christian nonprofit organization.{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-judicial-nominees-republicans_us_5bd0c08ee4b0d38b587f50e6|title=Senate's Out? Nobody's Around? Perfect Time To Advance Trump's Court Picks, Says GOP.|author=Jennifer Bendery|date=October 24, 2018|work=Huffington Post|access-date=October 26, 2018|language=en-US}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/trump-s-newly-confirmed-federal-judge-has-ties-anti-gay-n980281|title=Trump's new federal judge has ties to anti-gay 'hate group'|website=NBC News|date=March 6, 2019 |access-date=March 7, 2019}} Rushing wrote or co-wrote several amicus briefs on behalf of ADF and spoke at a number of ADF events. In 2006, Rushing was a summer associate at Williams & Connolly, a Washington, D.C. law firm. In 2007, Rushing had a summer law clerkship with the Department of Justice.{{Cite web |last=Olson |first=Tyler |date=September 21, 2020 |title=Who is Allison Jones Rushing, possible Trump Supreme Court contender? |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/who-is-allison-jones-rushing-possible-trump-supreme-court-contender |access-date=December 9, 2021 |website=Fox News}}
After graduating from law school, Rushing clerked for then-Judge Neil Gorsuch of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit from 2007 to 2008 and Judge David B. Sentelle of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit from 2008 to 2009.{{cite web |title=Press release: Tillis & Burr Welcome Nomination of Allison Rushing As Judge for the Fourth Circuit |url=https://www.tillis.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/8/tillis-burr-welcome-nomination-of-allison-rushing-as-judge-for-the-fourth-circuit |publisher=Office of North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis |date=August 27, 2018 |access-date=August 28, 2018}}{{cite web |title=Letter in Support of Neil Gorsuch from Female Former Law Clerks |url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Former%20Female%20Law%20Clerks.pdf |publisher=United States Senate Judiciary Committee |date=March 20, 2017 |access-date=August 28, 2018}}
From 2009 to 2010, Rushing returned to Williams & Connolly as an associate attorney. She clerked for Associate Justice Clarence Thomas of the Supreme Court of the United States during the 2010–2011 term.{{cite news |last1=Lat |first1=David |author-link1=David Lat |title=Supreme Court Clerk Hiring Watch: Meet Justice Thomas's Clerks |url=https://abovethelaw.com/2010/04/supreme-court-clerk-hiring-watch-meet-justice-thomass-clerks/ |date=April 20, 2010 |work=Above the Law |access-date=August 28, 2018}}{{cite web |title=Yarger '08 secures clerkship with Justice Clarence Thomas |url=https://law.duke.edu/news/yarger-08-secures-clerkship-justice-clarence-thomas/ |publisher=Duke Law School News |date=October 6, 2011 |access-date=August 28, 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Von Drehle |first1=David |title=Opinion: Democrats have themselves to blame for Trump's judicial juggernaut |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/diamonds-are-forever-federal-judges-are-the-next-best-thing/2018/08/28/3d94bc1e-aaf0-11e8-a8d7-0f63ab8b1370_story.html |date=August 28, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=September 4, 2018}} Following the end of her clerkship in 2011, Rushing rejoined Williams & Connolly in its Washington, D.C. office under Kannon Shanmugam. Rushing became a member of the Federalist Society in 2012. She volunteered as a legal advisor to Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign. Rushing was named partner at Williams & Connolly in January 2017. After being appointed to the Fourth Circuit, she left Williams & Connolly.{{cite news |last1=Gregg |first1=Aaron |title=Washington-area appointments and promotions for Jan. 16 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/washington-area-appointments-and-promotions-for-jan-16/2017/01/13/098b169a-d8d6-11e6-9a36-1d296534b31e_story.html |date=January 13, 2017 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=August 28, 2018}}{{cite web |url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-seventeenth-wave-judicial-nominees/ |title=President Donald J. Trump Announces Seventeenth Wave of Judicial Nominees |date=August 27, 2018 |via=National Archives |work=whitehouse.gov |access-date=August 27, 2018 }} {{PD-notice}}{{cite news |last1=Murphy |first1=Brian |title=At 36, North Carolina native picked by Trump for lifetime appointment |url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article217592285.html |date=September 11, 2018 |newspaper=The Charlotte Observer |agency=McClatchy |access-date=October 10, 2018}}
= Federal judicial service =
File:Allison J. Rushing (cropped).jpg
On August 27, 2018, President Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate Rushing to serve as a United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.{{cite news|title=Trump nominating N. Carolina native Rushing for 4th Circuit|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article217434940.html|access-date=August 28, 2018|newspaper=The Charlotte Observer|agency=Associated Press|date=August 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829072051/https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article217434940.html|archive-date=August 29, 2018 |url-status=dead}} Her official nomination was received on the same day by the United States Senate.{{Cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/115th-congress/2451|title=PN2451 — Allison Jones Rushing — The Judiciary|date=August 27, 2018|website=United States Senate|access-date=August 27, 2018|language=en}} She was nominated to the seat being vacated by Allyson K. Duncan, who previously announced her intention to assume senior status upon the confirmation of her successor. On October 17, 2018, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.{{cite web|url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/meetings/10/17/2018/nominations|title=Nominations – United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|website=Judiciary.senate.gov|date=October 17, 2018 |access-date=November 5, 2018}} During Rushing's confirmation hearing, she was questioned about her ties to the ADF. Rushing was asked if she would recuse herself from ADF-related cases if confirmed. She replied: "I would determine the appropriate action with the input of the parties, consultation of these rules and ethical canons, and consultation with my colleagues." Asked about ADF being labeled a "hate group" by the Southern Poverty Law Center, Rushing said: "Hate is wrong, and it should have no place in our society. In my experience with ADF, I have not witnessed anyone expressing or advocating hate."
On January 3, 2019, her nomination was returned to the President under Rule XXXI, Paragraph 6 of the United States Senate. On January 23, 2019, President Trump announced his intent to renominate Rushing for a federal judgeship.{{cite web|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-intent-nominate-judicial-nominees/|work=whitehouse.gov|title=President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Judicial Nominees|via=National Archives|access-date=March 7, 2019}} Her nomination was sent to the Senate later that day.{{cite web|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/nominations-sent-senate-2/|work=whitehouse.gov|title=Nominations Sent to the Senate|via=National Archives|access-date=March 7, 2019}} On February 7, 2019, her nomination was reported out of committee by a 12–10 vote.{{cite web|url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/02.07.2019%20Results%20of%20Executive%20Business%20Meeting1.pdf|title=Results of Executive Business Meeting – February 7, 2019|publisher=Senate Judiciary Committee|access-date=March 7, 2019}} On March 4, 2019, the Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a 52–43 vote.{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=116&session=1&vote=00034|title=On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on Allison Jones Rushing, of North Carolina, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit)|website=United States Senate|access-date=March 7, 2019}} On March 5, 2019, Rushing was confirmed by a 53–44 vote.{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=116&session=1&vote=00035|title=On the Nomination (Confirmation Allison Jones Rushing, of North Carolina, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit)|date=March 5, 2019|website=United States Senate|access-date=March 5, 2019}} At the time of her confirmation, she was the youngest federal judge in the United States.{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/trumps-supreme-court-list-potential-candidates-for-justice-ruth-bader-ginsburgs-seat-11600536830|title = Five Women Trump is Considering for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Supreme Court Seat|newspaper = Wall Street Journal|date = September 21, 2020}} Rushing received her judicial commission on March 21, 2019.{{FJC Bio|nid=6098356|inline=yes}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/judges/judges-of-the-court/judge-allison-jones-rushing|title=Judge Allison Jones Rushing|website=Ca4.uscourts.gov|access-date=November 26, 2021}}
On September 9, 2020, President Trump named Rushing as a potential choice to fill a U.S. Supreme Court vacancy if one should open.{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/09/09/911194201/trump-adds-ted-cruz-tom-cotton-to-list-of-potential-scotus-picks/|title=Trump Adds Ted Cruz, Tom Cotton To List Of Potential Supreme Court Picks|website=NPR.org|date=September 9, 2020|access-date=September 9, 2020|last1=Wise|first1=Alana}} After the death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on September 18, President Trump briefly considered nominating Rushing to replace her; however, he chose Judge Amy Coney Barrett of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit instead.{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/death-of-ruth-bader-ginsburg/2020/09/19/914829456/sources-trump-considers-coney-barrett-lagoa-thapar-for-supreme-court-spot|title=Sources: Trump Considers Barrett, Lagoa, Rushing For Supreme Court Spot|website=NPR.org|date=September 19, 2020|last1=Johnson|first1=Carrie|last2=Keith|first2=Tamara}}
Personal life
Rushing is a Baptist.{{Cite web |title=The Supreme Court's evangelical blind spot |url=https://theweek.com/articles/938983/supreme-courts-evangelical-blind-spot |access-date=December 9, 2021 |website=The Week|date=September 23, 2020 }} She is married to Blake Rushing.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
Selected publications
- {{cite journal |last1=Jones |first1=Allison B. |title=The Rooker-Feldman Doctrine: What Does It Mean to Be Inextricably Intertwined? |journal=Duke Law Journal |date=2006 |volume=56 |issue=2 |pages=643–679 |url=https://scholarship.law.duke.edu/dlj/vol56/iss2/6 |access-date=August 28, 2018}}
External links
- {{FJC Bio|nid=6098356}}
- {{Ballotpedia|Allison_Jones_Rushing|Allison Jones Rushing}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20180828203246/https://www.wc.com/Attorneys/Allison-Jones-Rushing Profile] at Williams & Connolly
- [https://www.nationalreview.com/bench-memos/who-is-allison-jones-rushing/ Who is Allison Jones Rushing], National Review
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{{United States courts of appeals judges}}
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Category:21st-century American women lawyers
Category:21st-century American lawyers
Category:21st-century American women judges
Category:American anti-same-sex-marriage activists
Category:Duke University School of Law alumni
Category:Judges of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Category:Law clerks of the Supreme Court of the United States
Category:Lawyers from Washington, D.C.
Category:North Carolina lawyers
Category:People from Flat Rock, Henderson County, North Carolina
Category:United States court of appeals judges appointed by Donald Trump