Kevin G. Ritz

A native of Memphis, Ritz graduated from White Station High School.{{Cite web|url=http://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-applauds-senate-confirmation-kevin-g-ritz|title=Congressman Cohen Applauds Senate Confirmation of Kevin G. Ritz | Congressman Steve Cohen|date=September 22, 2022|website=cohen.house.gov}} Ritz received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia in 1997, where he was a Jefferson Scholar. He later received a Master of Science from Georgetown University in 1999, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2004.{{citation-attribution|1={{Cite press release |title=President Biden Announces Three New Nominees to Serve as U.S. Attorneys, One to Serve as U.S. Marshal |date=July 29, 2022 |publisher=The White House |location=Washington, D.C. |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/07/29/president-biden-announces-three-new-nominees-to-serve-as-u-s-attorneys-one-to-serve-as-u-s-marshal/ |access-date=July 29, 2022}} }}

From 2004 to 2005, Ritz served as a law clerk for Judge Julia Smith Gibbons of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. In 2005, he became an assistant United States attorney in the United States Attorney's office for the Western District of Tennessee. Ritz worked as a prosecutor in drug trafficking{{Cite web|url=https://www.wbbjtv.com/2023/04/11/u-s-attorney-ritz-discusses-role-talks-issues-across-west-tennessee/|title=U.S. Attorney Ritz discusses role, talks issues across West Tennessee|date=April 11, 2023}} and gun-related crimes before moving to appellate law later in his career. He appeared as counsel in United States v. Castleman.{{Cite web |last=Finton |first=Lucas |date=July 29, 2022 |title=President Joe Biden nominates former assistant U.S. attorney to top spot in Memphis |url=https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/2022/07/29/joe-biden-nominates-kevin-ritz-attorney-western-district-of-tennessee/10187490002/ |access-date=July 29, 2022 |website=The Commercial Appeal |language=en-US}}

On July 29, 2022, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Ritz to be the United States attorney for the Western District of Tennessee. On August 1, 2022, his nomination was sent to the United States Senate, and the nomination was confirmed on September 22, 2022, by voice vote.{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/2442 |title=PN2442 – Nomination of Kevin G. Ritz for Department of Justice, 117th Congress (2021–2022) |date=22 September 2022 |publisher=United States Congress |access-date=September 28, 2022}} Ritz was sworn in by Chief Judge S. Thomas Anderson on September 28, 2022.{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdtn/pr/kevin-ritz-sworn-united-states-attorney |title=Kevin Ritz Sworn in as United States Attorney |date=September 28, 2022|publisher=United States Department of Justice |access-date=September 28, 2022}} On September 18, 2024, he resigned as the US Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee to serve as a circuit judge of the Sixth Circuit.{{Cite press release|title=United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz Announces Resignation|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdtn/pr/united-states-attorney-kevin-g-ritz-announces-resignation|website=justice.gov|access-date=September 18, 2024}}

On March 20, 2024, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Ritz to serve as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.{{Cite press release |title=President Biden Names Forty-Seventh Round of Judicial Nominees and Announces One New Nominee to Serve as U.S. Marshal|date=March 20, 2024 |publisher=The White House |location=Washington, D.C. |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2024/03/20/president-biden-names-forty-seventh-round-of-judicial-nominees-and-announces-one-new-nominee-to-serve-as-u-s-marshal/ |access-date=March 20, 2024}}{{PD-notice}} His nomination drew opposition from Senator Marsha Blackburn, who said the White House had abandoned discussions with her and fellow Tennessee senator Bill Hagerty about finding a nominee for the position.{{Cite news|last=Raymond|first=Nate|title=Biden nominates Tennessee prosecutor to US appeals court|url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/biden-nominates-tennessee-prosecutor-us-appeals-court-2024-03-20/|website=Reuters|access-date=March 20, 2024}}{{Cite news|last=Finton|first=Lucas|title=Biden taps U.S. Attorney for Western District Kevin Ritz as Sixth Circuit Judge nominee|url=https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/local/2024/03/20/biden-taps-u-s-attorney-kevin-ritz-as-sixth-circuit-judge-nominee-memphis-doj-shelby-county/73046508007/|website=commericalappeal.com|access-date=March 20, 2024}} On March 21, 2024, his nomination was sent to the Senate. President Biden nominated Ritz to the seat being vacated by Judge Julia Smith Gibbons, who announced her intent to assume senior status upon confirmation of a successor.{{Cite press release |title=Nominations Sent to the Senate |date=March 20, 2024 |publisher=The White House |location=Washington, D.C. |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2024/03/21/nominations-sent-to-the-senate-141/}} On April 17, 2024, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.{{Cite web|title=Nominations|date=April 16, 2024|publisher=United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|location=Washington, D.C.|url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee-activity/hearings/04/17/2024/nominations}} During his confirmation hearing, Republican senators questioned Ritz about an ethics complaint filed against him during his tenure as an Assistant United States Attorney. The complaint, brought by defense counsel, alleged that Ritz had misrepresented charges during a plea agreement in a criminal case. Ritz responded by stating that he was unaware of the ethics complaint at the time. Additionally, he faced inquiries about why federal gun charges were not pursued against a suspect allegedly involved in the fatal shooting of Memphis police officer Joseph McKinney.{{Cite web |last=Headley |first=Tiana |date=April 17, 2024 |title=Biden Sixth Circuit Pick Pressured by Republicans on Ethics (1) |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/biden-sixth-circuit-pick-pressured-by-republicans-over-ethics |access-date=April 17, 2024 |website=news.bloomberglaw.com |language=en}} On May 9, 2024, his nomination was reported out of committee by an 11–10 party-line vote.{{Cite press release |title=Senate Judiciary Committee Advances the Protecting Older Americans Act, Four Judicial Nominations to the Full Senate |date=May 9, 2024 |publisher=United States Senate Judiciary Committee |url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/press/releases/senate-judiciary-committee-advances-the-protecting-older-americans-act-four-judicial-nominations-to-the-full-senate |access-date=May 9, 2024}} On September 12, 2024, the United States Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 49–42 vote, with Senator Kyrsten Sinema voting against the motion.{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1182/vote_118_2_00239.htm|title=On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture: Kevin Gafford Ritz to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit)|website=United States Senate|date=September 12, 2024|access-date=September 12, 2024}} On September 16, 2024, his nomination was confirmed by a 48–46 vote, with Senator Sinema voting against confirmation.{{Cite web|date=September 16, 2024|title=On the Nomination (Confirmation: Kevin Gafford Ritz, of Tennessee, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit)|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1182/vote_118_2_00240.htm|access-date=September 16, 2024|website=United States Senate}}{{Cite news|last=Raymond|first=Nate|title=Biden's pick of Tennessee prosecutor confirmed to join US appeals court|url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/bidens-pick-tennessee-prosecutor-confirmed-join-us-appeals-court-2024-09-16/|website=Reuters|access-date=September 16, 2024}} He received his judicial commission on September 19, 2024.{{FJC Bio|nid=13761862|inline=yes}}

{{reflist}}

• {{FJC Bio|nid=13761862}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-legal}}

{{s-bef|before=Joe Murphy
Acting}}

{{s-ttl|title={{nowrap|United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee}}|years=2022–2024}}

{{s-aft|after=Reagan Taylor Fondren
Acting}}

{{s-bef|before=Julia Smith Gibbons}}

{{s-ttl|title={{nowrap|Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit}}|years=2024–present}}

{{s-inc}}

{{s-end}}

{{United States courts of appeals judges}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ritz, Kevin G.}}

Category:1974 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American lawyers

Category:American prosecutors

Category:Assistant United States attorneys

Category:Georgetown University Law Center alumni

Category:Judges of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

Category:Lawyers from Memphis, Tennessee

Category:United States attorneys for the Western District of Tennessee

Category:United States court of appeals judges appointed by Joe Biden

Category:University of Virginia alumni

Category:University of Virginia School of Law alumni