Mark Norris (judge)

Norris received his Bachelor of Arts from Colorado College, and his Juris Doctor from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. From 1980 to 2006, Norris practiced law at Armstrong Allen. Before becoming a judge, Norris was senior counsel at Adams and Reese in Memphis. In 1994, Norris was elected to the Shelby County Commission. He served on that body until 2000.

Norris was first elected to represent District 32 in the Tennessee Senate in 2000. The District is composed of Dyer, Lauderdale, and Tipton counties, and the eastern and northeastern portion of Shelby County.[https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2017/07/13/president-donald-j-trump-announces-fifth-wave-judicial-candidates "President Donald J. Trump Announces Fifth Wave of Judicial Candidates" White House, July 13, 2017] While in the Senate Norris was an active member in the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), having attended meetings of the organization.{{Cite web |url=http://www.commoncause.org/atf/cf/%7BFB3C17E2-CDD1-4DF6-92BE-BD4429893665%7D/1-35-day_mailing_civil-final%20new%20orleans2.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=April 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704033133/http://www.commoncause.org/atf/cf/%7BFB3C17E2-CDD1-4DF6-92BE-BD4429893665%7D/1-35-day_mailing_civil-final%20new%20orleans2.pdf |archive-date=July 4, 2012 |url-status=dead }} In 2002, Norris ran to represent Tennessee's 7th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives, but lost the primary to Marsha Blackburn. He did not have to give up his Senate seat to run for Congress; Tennessee state senators serve staggered four-year terms, and Norris was not up for reelection until 2004.

He was elected the State Senate Majority Leader in 2007.

In 2015, Norris opposed a proposal to make the Bible the official state book.Otis Sanford, [http://www.commercialappeal.com/story/opinion/columnists/otis-sanford/2017/01/14/mark-norris-has-steep-trek-tennessee-governorship/96469620/ Mark Norris has steep trek to Tennessee governorship], Commercial Appeal (January 14, 2017).[http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-tennessee-bible-20150416-story.html Tennessee plan to make Bible 'official' book derailed], Chicago Tribune wire services (April 16, 2015).

Norris ran unopposed for re-election in 2016, collecting $655,000 in campaign contributions, the largest among all Tennessee General Assembly candidates.Erik Schelzig, [https://www.apnews.com/8101cbbe158d4694b3de6a90c852c4b9 More than $16M flows to Tennessee legislative candidates], Associated Press (November 2, 2016).

Norris engaged in an effort to bar refugee resettlement in Tennessee and was a lead figure supporting a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program.Cari Wade Gervin, [http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2017/07/14/mark-norris-nomination-federal-post-could-lead-flurry-moves-tennessee-politics/479889001/ Refugee lawsuit finally filed], Tennessean (March 13, 2017).Sam Stockard, [https://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2017/mar/14/tennessee-sues-federal-government-over-refugee-program-1/ Tennessee Sues Federal Government Over Refugee Program], Memphis Daily News (March 14, 2017). Norris created an online petition against refugee resettlement under the headline "Don't let potential terrorists come to Tennessee."Joel Ebert, [http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2016/03/22/lawmakers-cite-belgium-attacks-need-refugee-resolution/82133542/ Lawmakers cite Belgium attacks as need for refugee resolution], Tennessean (March 22, 2016).Sarah Goodyear, [http://interactive.nydailynews.com/2016/07/tennessee-campaign-bar-refugees-veiled-islamophobia/ Is the Volunteer State’s campaign to bar refugees really just a veiled expression of Islamophobia?], New York Daily News (July 2, 2016). Norris also supported the Trump travel bans.Joel Ebert, [http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2017/06/12/sen-mark-norris-being-vetted-appointment-federal-judgeship/388904001/ Sen. Mark Norris being vetted for appointment to federal judgeship], USA Today Network (June 12, 2017).

Norris resigned from the state senate on November 1, 2018, after being confirmed to the district court.{{Cite web|url=https://wreg.com/2018/11/09/collierville-republican-sworn-in-as-federal-judge/|title=Collierville Republican sworn in as federal judge|date=November 9, 2018}}

On July 13, 2017, President Donald Trump nominated Norris to the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, to the seat vacated by Judge J. Daniel Breen, who assumed senior status on March 18, 2017.[https://web.archive.org/web/20170714065923/https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/07/13/ten-nominations-sent-senate-today " Ten Nominations Sent to the Senate Today" White House, July 13, 2017] Prior to his nomination, Norris was publicly considering a candidacy for Governor of Tennessee in 2018.

Trump's nomination of Norris was supported by Republican Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker of Tennessee.Andy Sher, [http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/politics/state/story/2017/jul/13/trump-nominates-tennessee-senate-majority-leader-norris-federal-judgeship/438179/ Trump nominates Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Norris for federal judgeship], Times Free Press (July 13, 2017). Norris' nomination was opposed by former U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin, an appointee of Bill Clinton, who wrote a New York Times opinion editorial in which she described Norris as one of a number of "the least qualified and most bizarre" of Trump's judicial appointments.Shira A. Scheindlin, [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/09/opinion/trump-judges-courts.html Trump's Crazy Choices for the Courts], New York Times'' (November 9, 2017).

On November 1, 2017, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.[https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/meetings/11/01/2017/nominations United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary: Nominations for November 1, 2017] During the hearing, Norris said in response to a question from Senator Amy Klobuchar that he viewed the case Obergefell v. Hodges (determining that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry) as settled law.Michael Collins,[http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2017/11/01/judicial-nominee-mark-norris-tells-senate-panel-gay-marriage-settled-law/822189001/ Judicial nominee Mark Norris tells Senate panel that gay marriage is settled law], USA Today Network (November 1, 2017). On December 7, 2017, his nomination was reported out of committee by an 11–9 vote.[https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Results%20of%20Executive%20Business%20Meeting%2012-07-17.pdf Results of Executive Business Meeting – December 7, 2017, Senate Judiciary Committee]

On January 3, 2018, his nomination was returned to the President under Rule XXXI, Paragraph 6 of the United States Senate.[https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/2018/1/3/daily-digest "Congressional Record", United States Senate, January 3, 2018] On January 5, 2018, President Donald Trump announced his intent to renominate Norris to a federal judgeship.[https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-renomination-21-judicial-nominees/ "President Donald J. Trump Announces Renomination of 21 Judicial Nominees", White House, January 5, 2018] On January 8, 2018, his renomination was sent to the Senate.[https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/nominations-sent-senate-today-2/ "Nominations Sent to the Senate Today", The White House, January 8, 2018] On January 18, 2018, his nomination was reported out of committee by a 11–10 vote.[https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Results%20of%20Executive%20Business%20Meeting%2001-18-181.pdf Results of Executive Business Meeting – January 18, 2018, Senate Judiciary Committee] On January 10, 2018, Norris said he was unsure if he would be confirmed to the judgeship by the U.S. Senate and planned to remain in the state legislature until his nomination was ultimately confirmed.{{cite news|last1=Buie|first1=Jordan|title=Sen. Mark Norris says judgeship is uncertain, will remain in legislature until confirmed|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2018/01/10/sen-mark-norris-says-judgeship-uncertain-remain-legislature-until-confirmed/1021816001/|access-date=March 8, 2018|agency=USA Todday|work=The Tennessean|date=January 10, 2018}} On October 11, 2018, his nomination was confirmed by a 51–44 vote.{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=115&session=2&vote=00237|title=On the Nomination (Confirmation Mark Saalfield Norris, Sr., of Tennessee, to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Tennessee)|date=October 11, 2018|website=United States Senate|access-date=October 11, 2018|language=en}} He received his judicial commission on November 8, 2018.{{FJC Bio|nid=5374071|inline=yes}}

• Donald Trump judicial appointment controversies

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• {{Ballotpedia|Mark_Norris|Mark Norris}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060505032911/http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/Senate/Members/s32.htm Tennessee Senate Member (archive)]

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Category:1955 births

Category:Living people

Category:20th-century American lawyers

Category:21st-century American lawyers

Category:21st-century members of the Tennessee General Assembly

Category:Colorado College alumni

Category:Judges of the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee

Category:People from Akron, Ohio

Category:People from Collierville, Tennessee

Category:Sturm College of Law alumni

Category:Tennessee lawyers

Category:Republican Party Tennessee state senators

Category:United States district court judges appointed by Donald Trump