Irma Carrillo Ramirez

{{Infobox judge

|name = Irma Carrillo Ramirez

|image = Irma C Ramirez.jpg

|caption = Senate Judiciary Committee hearing - May 17, 2023

| office = Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

| term_start = December 8, 2023

| term_end =

| appointer = Joe Biden

| predecessor = Gregg Costa

| successor =

|office1 = Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas

|term_start1 = September 9, 2002

|term_end1 = December 8, 2023

|birth_name = Irma Jean Carrillo{{Cite web|url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Ramirez%20Senate%20Questionnaire%20Final.pdf|title=United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary: Questionnaire for Judicial Nominees: Irma Carrillo Ramirez}}

|birth_date = {{birth year and age|1964}}

|birth_place = Brownfield, Texas, U.S.

|death_date =

|death_place =

|education = West Texas A&M University (BA)
Southern Methodist University (JD)

}}

Irma Carrillo Ramirez (born 1964) is an American lawyer and jurist serving as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. She previously served as a United States magistrate judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas from 2002 to 2023. She is a former nominee to be a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas.

Early life and education

Ramirez was born in 1964.{{Cite web|url=http://www.txnd.uscourts.gov/judge/magistrate-judge-irma-ramirez|title=United States District Court profile}} Ramirez's parents were Mexican immigrants who came to the United States under the bracero guest worker program.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/04/14/dallas-magistrate-picked-by-biden-for-appeals-court-would-be-first-latina-on-5th-circuit/|title=Dallas judge who'd be first Latina on 5th Circuit appeals court OK'd by Cornyn and Cruz|date=April 14, 2023|website=Dallas News}}https://www.fedbar.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/RamirezOct2008-pdf-3.pdf She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from West Texas A&M University in 1986 and a Juris Doctor from the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in 1991.

Career

Ramirez began her legal career working as an associate for the law firm Locke Purnell Rain Harrell, PC (now Locke Lord LLP) in Dallas from 1991 to 1995. She served as an assistant United States attorney for the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas, working in the Civil Division from 1995 to 1999 and the Criminal Division from 1999 to 2002.{{Cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2016/03/15/president-obama-nominates-six-serve-united-states-district-courts|title=President Obama Nominates Six to Serve on the United States District Courts|date=March 15, 2016|website=White House}}

She served as a United States magistrate judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas from September 9, 2002 to December 8, 2023.{{Cite web |url=http://www.law.ttu.edu/graduation/spring_2015/ |title="School of Law Spring 2015 Hooding Ceremony", Texas Tech University School of Law, May 16, 2015 |access-date=April 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505032001/http://www.law.ttu.edu/graduation/spring_2015/ |archive-date=May 5, 2016 |url-status=dead }}

= Notable opinions =

In 2017, Ramirez issued Deion Sanders a $2,200 fine when he missed a deposition. The case involved a whistleblower allegation that he and others involved with a defunct charter school cheated the Federal School Lunch Program.{{Cite web|url=https://setexasrecord.com/stories/511184847-deion-sanders-fails-to-appear-at-hearing-regarding-prime-prep-academy|title=Deion Sanders fails to appear at hearing regarding Prime Prep Academy|first=Dee|last=Thompson|website=Southeast Texas Record}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.law360.com/articles/1164808/deion-sanders-to-pay-atty-fees-in-whistleblower-s-suit|title=Deion Sanders To Pay Atty Fees In Whistleblower's Suit - Law360|website=www.law360.com}}

In 2019, Ramirez dismissed a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the family of Botham Jean against the city of Dallas. Jean was killed when off-duty Dallas Police Department officer Amber Guyger claimed she mistook him for an intruder after thinking she'd entered her own apartment, and fatally shot him. Ramirez found that the family did not show a pattern of police racism or other wrongdoing that would implicate the city.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/grief-for-botham-jean-does-not-require-shame-from-dallas-11775689|title=Dallas Can Grieve for Botham Jean Without Bowing to Shame|first=Jim|last=Schutze|website=Dallas Observer}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/2020/09/botham-jeans-family-and-amber-guyger-now-agree-on-one-thing/|title=Botham Jean's Family and Amber Guyger Now Agree on One Thing|first=Jim|last=Schutze|date=September 21, 2020|website=D Magazine}}

In 2021, Ramirez was the judge for the case against Joseph Garza, a Dallas tax lawyer. Garza was accused of hiding $1 billion in income from the IRS and reducing $200 million from client tax bills by using fraudulent tax shelters.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fox4news.com/news/dallas-tax-attorney-helped-clients-hide-1b-from-irs-prosecutors-say|title=Dallas tax attorney helped clients hide $1B from IRS, prosecutors say|first=FOX 4|last=Staff|date=October 28, 2022|website=FOX 4}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/feds-pop-dallas-lawyer-over-alleged-1-billion-tax-shelter-scheme-15147504|title=Feds Pop Dallas Lawyer Over Alleged $1 Billion Tax Shelter Scheme|first=Patrick|last=Strickland|website=Dallas Observer}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndtx/pr/dallas-attorney-charged-1-billion-tax-shelter-scheme|title=Northern District of Texas | Dallas Attorney Charged In $1 Billion Tax Shelter Scheme | United States Department of Justice|date=October 27, 2022|website=www.justice.gov}}

File:Irma Ramirez.jpg

= Expired nomination to U.S. district court =

On March 15, 2016, President Barack Obama nominated Ramirez to serve as a United States district judge for the Northern District of Texas, to the seat vacated by Judge Terry R. Means, who assumed senior status on July 3, 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2016/03/15/presidential-nominations-sent-senate|title=Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate|date=March 15, 2016|website=White House}} On September 7, 2016, a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee was held on her nomination.{{Cite web|url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee-activity/hearings/08/31/2016/nominations-09-07-16|title=Nominations | United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|website=www.judiciary.senate.gov}} Her nomination expired on January 3, 2017, with the end of the 114th Congress.

= U.S. Court of appeals service =

On April 14, 2023, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Ramirez to serve as United States circuit judge for the Fifth Circuit.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meetthepressblog/biden-nominate-two-latina-judges-appeals-courts-rcna79619|title=Biden to nominate two Latina judges to appeals courts|first=Sahil|last=Kapur|website=www.nbcnews.com|date=14 April 2023 }}{{Cite press release |title=President Biden Names Thirty-Second Round of Judicial Nominees |date=April 14, 2023 |publisher=The White House |location=Washington, D.C. |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/04/14/president-biden-names-thirty-second-round-of-judicial-nominees/ |access-date=April 14, 2023}} {{PD-notice}} On April 17, 2023, her nomination was sent to the Senate. President Biden nominated Ramirez to the seat vacated by Judge Gregg Costa, who resigned on August 31, 2022.{{Cite press release|title=Nominations Sent to the Senate|date=April 17, 2023|publisher=The White House|location=Washington, D.C.|url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/04/17/nominations-sent-to-the-senate-102/}} Her nomination received the support of Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz.{{Cite press release|title=Cornyn, Cruz on Nomination of Irma Carrillo Ramirez for U.S. Fifth Circuit Court|url=https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/cornyn-cruz-on-nomination-of-irma-carrillo-ramirez-for-u-s-fifth-circuit-court/}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/14/irma-ramirez-judge-nomination-5th-circuit/|title=Biden to nominate Texas judge to be first Latina on federal appeals court|first=Matthew|last=Choi|date=April 14, 2023|website=The Texas Tribune}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.courthousenews.com/fifth-circuit-nominee-would-be-first-hispanic-woman-at-the-court/|title=Fifth Circuit nominee would be first Hispanic woman at the court | Courthouse News Service}}{{Cite web|url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/biden-plans-to-nominate-first-hispanic-woman-to-fifth-circuit|title=Biden to Nominate First Hispanic Woman to Fifth Circuit (3)|website=news.bloomberglaw.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/biden-nominates-texas-judge-conservative-leaning-5th-circuit-appeals-court-2023-04-14/|title=Biden nominates Texas judge for conservative-leaning 5th Circuit appeals court|first=Andrew|last=Goudsward|date=April 14, 2023|via=www.reuters.com}} On May 17, 2023, a hearing on her nomination was held before the United States Judiciary Committee.{{Cite web|title=Nominations|date=May 15, 2023|publisher=United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|location=Washington, D.C.|url= https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee-activity/hearings/05/17/2023/nominations}}{{Cite news|last=Morton|first=Joseph|title=From West Texas cotton fields to the 5th Circuit: Dallas judge poised to make history|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/05/17/from-west-texas-cotton-fields-to-the-5th-circuit-dallas-judge-poised-to-make-history/?outputType=amp|website=Dallas News|access-date=May 17, 2023|language=en}}{{Cite news|date=May 17, 2023|last=Goudsward|first=Andrew|title=Senate panel hails rare unity on Biden nominee for 5th Circuit judge|url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/senate-panel-hails-rare-unity-biden-nominee-5th-circuit-judge-2023-05-17/|website=Reuters|access-date=May 18, 2023|language=en}} On June 8, 2023, her nomination was favorably reported by the committee by a voice vote, with Senator Josh Hawley voting no on record.{{cite web|url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2023-06-08%20-%20EBM%20-%20Results.pdf|title=Results of Executive Business Meeting – June 8, 2023|publisher=United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|accessdate=June 8, 2023}}{{Cite news|last=Headley|first=Tiana|title=Hispanic Woman Who'd Make Fifth Circuit History Advances|url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/hispanic-woman-whod-make-fifth-circuit-history-advances|website=Bloomberg Law|access-date=June 8, 2023}}{{Cite news|last=Morton|first=Joseph|title=First Latina on 5th Circuit one step away as Senate panel OKs Dallas judge|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2023/06/08/senate-judiciary-committee-moves-dallas-judge-one-step-closer-to-5th-circuit/?outputType=amp|website=dallasnews.com|access-date=June 8, 2023}} On November 30, 2023, the United States Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by an 80–17 vote.{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1181/vote_118_1_00325.htm|title=On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture: Irma Carrillo Ramirez to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit)|website=United States Senate|date=November 30, 2023|access-date=November 30, 2023}} On December 4, 2023, her nomination was confirmed by an 80–12 vote.{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1181/vote_118_1_00326.htm|title=On the Nomination (Confirmation: Irma Carrillo Ramirez, of Texas, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit)|website=United States Senate|date=December 4, 2023|access-date=December 4, 2023}} She received her judicial commission on December 8, 2023.{{FJC Bio|nid=13761386|inline=yes}} She is the first Latina to serve on the Fifth Circuit.{{Cite news|last=Morton|first=Joseph|title=Senate confirms Dallas judge Irma Carrillo Ramirez as first Latina on 5th Circuit|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/12/04/senate-confirms-dallas-judge-irma-carrillo-ramirez-as-first-latina-on-5th-circuit/?outputType=amp|website=dallasnews.com|access-date=December 4, 2023}}{{Cite news|last1=Umanah|first1=Ufonobong|last2=Stern|first2=Seth|title=Ramirez Confirmed as First Latina to Serve on Fifth Circuit|url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/ramirez-confirmed-as-first-latina-to-serve-on-fifth-circuit|website=Bloomberg Law|access-date=December 4, 2023}}{{Cite news|last=Raymond|first=Nate|title=US Senate confirms first Latina to conservative-majority 5th Circuit|url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-senate-confirms-first-latina-conservative-majority-5th-circuit-2023-12-04/|website=Reuters|access-date=December 4, 2023}}