Jon D. Levy Explained

Jon David Levy
Office:Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maine
Term Start:May 6, 2024
Office1:Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maine
Term Start1:January 1, 2019
Term End1:March 18, 2024
Predecessor1:Nancy Torresen
Successor1:Lance E. Walker
Office2:Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maine
Term Start2:May 2, 2014
Term End2:May 6, 2024
Appointer2:Barack Obama
Predecessor2:George Z. Singal
Successor2:Stacey D. Neumann
Office3:Associate Justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court
Term Start3:March 7, 2002
Term End3:May 5, 2014
Appointer3:Angus King
Predecessor3:Leigh Saufley
Successor3:Jeffrey Hjelm
Birth Date:18 March 1954
Education:Syracuse University (BS)
West Virginia University (JD)

Jon David Levy (born March 18, 1954) is a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maine and served as an associate justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court from 2002 to 2014.

Biography

Levy received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1976 from Syracuse University. He received a Juris Doctor in 1979 from the West Virginia University College of Law where he was the lead article editor of the Law Review and graduated Order of the Coif. He served as a law clerk for Judge John Thomas Copenhaver Jr. of the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia from 1979 to 1981. From 1981 to 1982, he was appointed by Judge William Wayne Justice to serve as a special court monitor of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. From 1983 to 1995, he was an attorney in private practice in York, Maine. From 1995 to 2002, he served as a judge of the Maine District Court, serving as deputy chief judge from 2000 to 2001 and chief judge from 2001 to 2002. From 2002 until his confirmation as a federal judge in 2014, he served as an associate justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.[1] [2]

Federal judicial service

On September 19, 2013, President Barack Obama nominated Levy to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maine, to the seat vacated by Judge George Z. Singal, who assumed senior status on July 31, 2013.[3] On January 16, 2014 his nomination was reported out of committee by a 15–2 vote.[4] On April 11, 2014 Senate Majority Leader Reid filed a motion to invoke cloture on the nomination. On April 29, 2014 the United States Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 63–34 vote.[5] On April 30, 2014, his nomination was confirmed by a 75–20 vote.[6] He received his judicial commission on May 2, 2014. He served as chief judge from January 1, 2019[7] to March 18, 2024.[8] He assumed senior status on May 6, 2024.

On May 3, 2024, Levy dismissed a lawsuit filed by Amber Lavigne against Great Salt Bay Community School in Damariscotta, Maine. Lavigne contended that the school board and individual school officers had violated her “right to control and direct the care, custody, education, upbringing and healthcare decisions of her children,” by providing her then 13-year-old daughter with a chest binder and instructions on using it, and by referring to the child using a new name and pronouns, without consulting Lavigne. Levy held that the school district and individual school personnel could not be held legally liable for providing transgender care to minors without parental permission.[9]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: President Obama Nominates Eight to Serve on the United States District Courts. whitehouse.gov. National Archives. 19 September 2013.
  2. Web site: Biography . September 4, 2013 . May 23, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140523104331/http://www.courts.state.me.us/maine_courts/supreme/justices_bios.html#jabar . dead .
  3. Web site: Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate. whitehouse.gov. National Archives. 19 September 2013.
  4. Web site: Executive Business Meeting. United States Senate. Committee on the Judiciary. 16 January 2014.
  5. Web site: On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Nomination of Jon David Levy, of Maine, to be U.S. District Judge). 29 April 2014.
  6. Web site: On the Nomination (Confirmation Jon David Levy, of Maine, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Maine). United States Senate. 30 April 2014.
  7. https://www.med.uscourts.gov/news/judge-jon-d-levy-begin-term-chief-judge "Judge Jon D. Levy to Begin Term as Chief Judge", United States District Court for the District of Maine, December 31, 2018
  8. New Chief U.S. District Judge Term beginning on March 18, 2024 . February 29, 2024 . United States District Court for the District of Maine . April 5, 2024.
  9. News: Judge dismisses lawsuit by mother who said school hid teen’s gender expression . 7 May 2024 . Associated Press . Associated Press . 7 May 2024.