The Obama Nominations

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Obama nominated Judge Walter David Counts, III, Judge E. Scott Frost, James Wesley Hendrix, Judge Irma Carrillo Ramirez, Karen Gren Scholer, and  Kathleen Marie Sweet to serve on the United States District Courts. 

“Throughout their careers, these nominees have displayed unwavering commitment to justice and integrity,” said President Obama.  “Their records are distinguished and impressive, and I am confident that they will serve the American people well from the United States District Court bench.  I am honored to nominate them today.”

Judge Walter David Counts, III has served as a United States Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas since 2009.  Since 2006, Judge Counts has also served as the State Judge Advocate for the Texas National Guard; he holds the rank of Colonel and has been a member since 1989.  Prior to his appointment as a Magistrate Judge, he served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas from 1995 to 2009.  From 1987 to 1995, he served as an Assistant District Attorney for the Travis County District Attorney’s Office, with the exception of a six-month period from 1990 to 1991, when he worked as a solo practitioner.  He began his legal career as an associate at the law firm of Martin, Cox, Greenberg & Jones.  Judge Counts received his J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law in 1986 and his B.A. from Texas Tech University in 1983. 

Judge E. Scott Frost has served as a United States Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas since 2011.  In addition, he has served on the Operations Committee for the court since 2013.  Prior to his appointment as a Magistrate Judge, Judge Frost served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas from 1990 to 2011.  From 1988 to 1990, he worked as an associate for the law firm of McLean, Sanders, Price, Head & Ellis (now Brackett & Ellis, PC).  Judge Frost began his legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Sam R. Cummings of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas from 1987 to 1988.  He received his J.D. from Texas Tech University School of Law in 1987 and his B.B.A. from Angelo State University in 1984. 

James Wesley Hendrix has been the Chief of the Appellate Division for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas since 2012, and he has served as an Assistant United States Attorney since 2007.  Since 2015, he has also served on the Appellate Chiefs Working Group for the United States Attorney General’s Advisory Committee.  From 2004 to 2007, he was an associate at the law firm of Baker Botts LLP, practicing complex commercial litigation in state and federal courts.  Hendrix began his legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Patrick E. Higginbotham of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.  He received his J.D. with high honors from the University of Texas School of Law in 2003 and his B.A. with honors from the University of Chicago in 2000. 

Judge Irma Carrillo Ramirez has served as a United States Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas since 2002.  Prior to her appointment to the court, she served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, working in the Civil Division from 1995 to 1999 and the Criminal Division from 1999 to 2002.  Judge Ramirez began her legal career working as an associate for the law firm Locke Purnell Rain Harrell, PC (now Locke Lord LLP) from 1991 to 1995.  She received her J.D. from Southern Methodist University School of Law (now Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law) in 1991 and her B.A. from West Texas State University (now West Texas A&M University) in 1986. 

Karen Gren Scholer is a principal in the law firm of Carter Scholer Arnett Hamada & Mockler, PLLC, where she specializes in business litigation, complex tort litigation, and alternative dispute resolution.  She joined the firm as a principal in 2014 and was appointed as a co-managing partner in 2015.  From 2009 to 2013, she was a partner at the law firm of Jones Day.  From 2001 to 2008, she served as a State District Judge for the 95th Judicial District Court of Dallas County.  In 2007, she also served as the Presiding Judge for the Dallas County Civil District Judges.  Prior to her judicial service, from 1996 to 2000, she was a partner at the law firm of Andrews & Kurth, LLP.  From 1982 to 1996, Scholer worked for the law firm of Strasburger & Price, LLP, where she was elevated to partnership in 1989.  She received her J.D. from Cornell Law School in 1982 and her B.A. from Rice University in 1979. 

Kathleen Marie Sweet is a partner at the law firm of Gibson, McAskill & Crosby, LLP in Buffalo, New York, where she specializes in medical malpractice cases.  She joined the firm as an associate in 1997 and was elevated to partnership in 1998.  From 1993 to 1997, Sweet worked at the law firm of Brown & Tarantino LLP (now The Tarantino Law Firm), where she was elevated to partnership in 1995.  From 1992 to 1993, she was an associate at the law firm of Damon & Morey LLP (now Barclay Damon LLP).  Sweet began her legal career serving as a confidential law clerk for the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Fourth Judicial Department from 1990 to 1992.  She is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and the American Bar Foundation.  Sweet received her J.D. from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law in 1990 and her B.A. from Boston College in 1987.  

The United States Sentencing Commission

President Obama also nominated Judge Danny C. Reeves to serve on the United States Sentencing Commission.

“Throughout his career, Judge Danny C. Reeves has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to justice,” said President Obama. “I am confident he will continue to serve with excellence and integrity on the United States Sentencing Commission.”

Judge Danny C. Reeves is a United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Kentucky, a position he has held since 2001.  Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Reeves was a partner in the Lexington, Kentucky office of Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP (formerly Greenebaum Doll & McDonald PLLC), where he practiced civil litigation from 1983 to 2001.  Judge Reeves began his legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Eugene E. Siler, Jr., then of the United States District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky from 1981 to 1983.  He received his J.D. from Salmon P. Chase College of Law, Northern Kentucky University in 1981 and his B.A. from Eastern Kentucky University in 1978.  

United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

Finally, President Obama nominated Rebecca Ross Haywood to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

“Throughout her career, Rebecca Ross Haywood has shown unwavering integrity and an outstanding commitment to public service,” said President Obama. “I am proud to nominate her to serve on the United States Court of Appeals.”

Rebecca Ross Haywood is an Assistant United States Attorney in the Western District of Pennsylvania, where she has served as Chief of the Appellate Division since 2010.  As part of the office’s Management Team, she regularly consults on and reviews filings for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania.  In addition, Haywood frequently practices before the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and confers with trial attorneys on cases before the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

Haywood was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania and raised in the neighboring town of Elizabeth, Pennsylvania.  She received her A.B. cum laude in 1990 from Princeton University.  She then attended the University of Michigan Law School, where she served as an Associate Editor on the Michigan Law Review and obtained her J.D. magna cum laude in 1994.  After graduating from law school, Haywood clerked for the Honorable Alan N. Bloch of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania from 1994 to 1996.  From 1996 to 1997, she worked in the Pittsburgh office of the law firm of Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue (now Jones Day).  Haywood served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania from 1997 to 2001, where she handled civil matters, including representing federal agencies in employment and medical malpractice cases.  From 2001 to 2003, she once again clerked for the Honorable Alan N. Bloch.  In 2003, Haywood returned to the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania, where she was promoted to Appellate Chief in 2010.

During her time in the United States Attorney’s Office, Haywood has been actively involved in workplace management and training, serving as a member of the executive and training committees since 2011, as well as serving as the coordinator for prevention of workplace harassment from 2004 to 2010.  In addition, she is actively involved in the community and regularly speaks to students and legal organizations about the law and her career. 

Source: The White House, Office of the Press Secretary