Susan K. DeClercq explained

Susan K. DeClercq
Office:Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
Term Start:November 9, 2023
Appointer:Joe Biden
Predecessor:Stephanie D. Davis
Birth Name:Sun Jin Kim
Birth Place:Seoul, South Korea
Education:University of Michigan (BA)
Wayne State University (JD)

Susan Kim DeClercq (born 1974)[1] is an American lawyer from Michigan who is serving as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Early life and education

DeClercq's biological mother left her on the steps of a hospital in Seoul, South Korea, and she was adopted and raised by a single mother in the United States.[2] DeClercq received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan in 1995 and a Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Wayne State University Law School in 1999.[3]

Career

From 1999 to 2001, DeClercq served as a law clerk for Judge Avern Cohn of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. From 2001 to 2004, she was a litigation associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in Washington, D.C. From 2004 to 2022, she was an assistant United States attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. She served as Chief of the Civil Division and Chief of the Civil Rights Unit in her role, enforcing laws prohibiting discrimination.[4] From 2022 to 2023, she was a director and counsel of special investigations at Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan.[5]

Federal judicial service

On May 3, 2023, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate DeClercq to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. On May 4, 2023, her nomination was sent to the Senate. President Biden nominated DeClercq to the seat vacated by Judge Stephanie D. Davis, who was elevated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit on June 14, 2022.[6] On June 7, 2023, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.[7] [8] On July 13, 2023, her nomination was reported out of the committee by a 12–9 vote.[9] On October 4, 2023, the United States Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a 54–44 vote.[10] Later that day, her nomination was confirmed by a 52–42 vote.[11] She received her judicial commission on November 9, 2023. She was sworn in on November 13, 2023.[12] DeClercq is the first federal judge of East Asian descent in Michigan.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Questionnaire for Judicial Nominees. United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. June 6, 2023.
  2. Web site: Korean American judicial nominee shares her adoption and immigration journey . June 8, 2023 . nbcnews.com.
  3. President Biden Names Thirty-Third Round of Judicial Nominees . May 3, 2023 . The White House . Washington, D.C. . May 3, 2023.
  4. Web site: Burke . Melissa Nann . May 3, 2023 . Biden nominates Ford attorney to federal bench in Detroit . May 3, 2023 . The Detroit News . en-US.
  5. Web site: Susan K. DeClercq . May 3, 2023 . www.icle.org.
  6. Nominations Sent to the Senate . May 4, 2023 . The White House . Washington, D.C. .
  7. Web site: Nominations. June 6, 2023. United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Washington, D.C..
  8. News: Burke. Melissa Nann. Michigan judicial nominee moves Senate panel with immigrant story. detroitnews.com. June 7, 2023.
  9. Web site: Results of Executive Business Meeting – July 13, 2023. United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. July 13, 2023.
  10. Web site: On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture: Susan Kim DeClercq to be United States District Judge for the District of Michigan. United States Senate. October 4, 2023. October 4, 2023.
  11. Web site: On the Nomination (Confirmation: Susan Kim DeClercq, of Michigan, to be United States District Judge for the District of Michigan. United States Senate. October 4, 2023. October 4, 2023.
  12. November 13, 2023. Ford Motor Company Executive Susan D. DeClercq Sworn In As U.S. District Judge. mied.uscourts.gov. November 16, 2023.