Lisa Godbey Wood Explained

Lisa Godbey Wood
Office:Judge of the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review
Term Start:November 1, 2023
Appointer:John Roberts
Predecessor:Robert Lowell Miller Jr.
Office1:Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia
Term Start1:May 5, 2010
Term End1:May 5, 2017
Predecessor1:William Theodore Moore Jr.
Successor1:James Randal Hall
Office2:Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia
Term Start2:February 8, 2007
Appointer2:George W. Bush
Office3:United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia
Term Start3:July 2004[1]
Term End3:February 2007
President3:George W. Bush
Predecessor3:Richard S. Thompson[2]
Successor3:Edmund A. Booth, Jr.[3]
Birth Name:Lisa Sue Godbey[4]
Birth Date:28 January 1963
Birth Place:Lexington, Kentucky
Party:Republican
Spouse:Richard V. Wood
Education:University of Georgia (BA, JD)

Lisa Godbey Wood (born January 28, 1963) is an American lawyer who has served as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia since 2007, serving as chief judge from 2010 to 2017. In November 2023, she was designated by Chief Justice John Roberts to serve as a judge of the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review.

Education and career

Born in Lexington, Kentucky, Wood received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Georgia in 1985 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1990.[5]

From 1985 to 1986 she was the press secretary and later campaign advisor for Georgia Congressman Pat Swindall. From 1986 to 1987 she was a consultant to the Educational Improvement Project. In 1987 she was a career trainee for the Central Intelligence Agency. From 1988 to 1989 she was a summer law clerk for three different law firms. In 1989 she was a teaching assistant at the University of Georgia Business School.

She was a law clerk for Judge Anthony Alaimo of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia in 1990.[6] She was in private practice in Brunswick, Georgia from 1991 to 2004. She was a magistrate judge (part-time), Glynn County Magistrate Court, Georgia from 1998 to 2000.[6] She was the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia from 2004 to 2007.

Federal judicial service

On January 7, 2007, President George W. Bush nominated Wood to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, to a seat vacated by Dudley Hollingsworth Bowen Jr.[7] [8] She was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 30, 2007,[9] and received her commission on February 8, 2007. She served as chief judge from 2010[10] to 2017. When Wood assumed that role, she became the first woman ever to serve as chief judge for the Southern District of Georgia.[10] [11] On November 1, 2023, she was designated by Chief Justice John Roberts to serve as a judge of the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review.[12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Isakson, Chambliss Urge Swift Approval of Lisa Godbey Wood to Serve as Federal Judge for Southern District of Georgia - News Releases - - U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson. October 26, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191026185516/https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=FABAC492-DC26-4325-AB9C-0D33091DFD88. 2019-10-26.
  2. Web site: Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America. United States Congress. Senate. June 3, 2004. order of the Senate of the United States. Google Books.
  3. Web site: Edmund A. Booth, Jr., Of Counsel – Crowder Stewart LLP. October 26, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191026190307/http://www.crowderstewart.com/attorneys/edmund-a-booth-jr-of-counsel-2/. 2019-10-26.
  4. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=pur1.32754075481485;view=2up;seq=332;skin=mobile Confirmation hearings on federal appointments : hearings before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Ninth Congress, first session. pt.6 (2006)
  5. Web site: Lisa Godbey Wood. spia.uga.edu. March 18, 2018.
  6. Web site: Isakson, Chambliss Urge Swift Approval of Lisa Godbey Wood to Serve as Federal Judge for Southern District of Georgia. sakson.senate.gov. March 18, 2018. September 12, 2006.
  7. Web site: U.S. Circuit and District Court Nominations by President George W. Bush During the 107th-109th Congresses. fas.org. March 18, 2018.
  8. News: Skutch. Jan. White House call may bring new judge. March 18, 2018. Savannah Morning News. June 14, 2006.
  9. Web site: Isakson, Chambliss Praise Confirmation of Lisa Godbey Wood to Serve as Federal Judge for Southern District of Georgia. isakson.senate.gov. March 18, 2018. January 30, 2007.
  10. Web site: Stepzinski. Teresa. Wood becomes chief judge of the Southern District of Georgia. jacksonville.com. March 18, 2018. May 5, 2010.
  11. Web site: Johnson. Emily B.. U.S. District Court Chief Judge to deliver Signature Lecture on sentencing. news.uga.edu. March 18, 2018. October 6, 2016.
  12. Web site: Current Membership - Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court United States . November 24, 2023 . www.fisc.uscourts.gov.