K. Michael Moore Explained

Kevin Michael Moore
Office:Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
Term Start:July 1, 2014
Term End:July 1, 2021
Predecessor:Federico A. Moreno
Successor:Cecilia Altonaga
Office1:Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
Term Start1:February 10, 1992
Appointer1:George H. W. Bush
Predecessor1:Eugene P. Spellman
Office2:4th Director of the United States Marshals Service
Term Start2:November 6, 1989
Term End2:February 24, 1992
President2:George H. W. Bush
Predecessor2:Stanley E. Morris
Successor2:Henry E. Hudson
Birth Date:17 July 1951
Birth Place:Coral Gables, Florida, U.S.
Education:Florida State University (BA)
Fordham University (JD)

Kevin Michael Moore (born July 17, 1951) is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Early life and education

Moore was born in 1951 in Coral Gables, Florida, the fifth of seven children, to Thomas Francis Moore, Jr. and Janet Fay Moore. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Florida State University in 1972 and his Juris Doctor from Fordham University School of Law in 1976.

Career

Moore served as an assistant United States attorney for the Southern District of Florida from 1976 to 1981, as supervisory assistant United States attorney for the Northern District of Florida from 1981 to 1982, and as assistant United States attorney for the Northern District of Florida from 1983 to 1987. Moore served as the United States attorney for the Northern District of Florida from 1987 to 1989. From 1989 to 1992, Moore served as director of the United States Marshals Service at the United States Department of Justice.

Federal judicial service

Moore was nominated by President George H. W. Bush on October 4, 1991, to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, to the seat vacated by Judge Eugene P. Spellman. He was confirmed by the Senate on February 6, 1992, and received his commission on February 10, 1992. He served as chief judge from July 1, 2014, until July 1, 2021.

Intent to nominate to United States Sentencing Commission

On August 12, 2020, President Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate Moore to serve as chair of the United States Sentencing Commission.[1]

Notable cases

On March 21, 2000, Moore issued a fifty-page ruling declaring that only United States Attorney General Janet Reno could grant political asylum to keep 6-year-old Cuban rafter survivor Elian Gonzalez in the United States.[2] During his tenure on the bench, Judge Moore has overseen other high-profile cases, including the prosecution of the notorious Miami drug gang the "Boobie Boys,"[3] the sentencing of Sandra Avila Beltran, the "Queen of the Pacific," to seventy months imprisonment for her role in a conspiracy to import cocaine to the United States,[4] and the first trial conviction of a synthetic marijuana distributor in South Florida.[5]

Notes and References

  1. https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-intent-nominate-appoint-individuals-key-administration-posts-081220/ "President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts", The White House, August 12, 2020
  2. Web site: Judge Upholds Plan for Return of Boy to Cuba. www.nytimes.com.
  3. Web site: "Head of Violent Miami Drug Gang Sentenced to Life" - The Florida Times Union, June 7, 2000. October 4, 2016. October 5, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161005121452/https://www.questia.com/newspaper/1G1-63951234/head-of-violent-miami-drug-gang-sentenced-to-life. dead.
  4. Web site: Alleged Mexican drug 'queen' sentenced in U.S., but will soon be free. Richard. Fausset. 25 July 2013. LA Times.
  5. Web site: South Florida man imprisoned 20 years for synthetic-pot trafficking. .