Judge Jane L. Kelly Biography Currently: Circuit Judge US Court of Appeals, 8 th Circuit Education: Duke University, BA 1987 Harvard University, JD 1991 Cedar Rapids, Iowa Major Milestones John Adams Award, Iowa Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, for commitment to the constitutional right to criminal defense 2004 Confirmed by the Senate by a 96-0 vote as the second woman to the US Court of Appeals for the 8 th Circuit 2013 Sources: Grant Rogers, “Iowa Judge Jane Kelly Possible US Supreme Court Pick,” The Des Moines Register, March 2, 2016; Ryan Foley, “Jane Kelly’s Experience Rare on US Appeals Court,” The Denver Post, May 5, 2013; Alliance for Justice, 2016; National Journal, Biography A native of Indiana, Kelly became a federal appeals court judge with an unusual background: as a public defender representing low-income criminal defendants. After graduating from Harvard Law in the same class as President Obama, Kelly clerked with a district and circuit court judge. Kelly then became a public defender. She helped Luke Helder, a notorious bombing suspect, get declared unfit for trial because of mental illness, and represented a Peregrine Financial Group founder who pleaded guilty to embezzling $200 million. Kelly was nearly killed in an attack while jogging in Cedar Springs, but returned to the bench shortly after. The crime was never solved. Kelly’s unanimous confirmation to the US Court of Appeals was strongly supported by Senate Judiciary Chairman Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), which might make it difficult for him to oppose her. Major Cases El Dorado Chemical Co v. EPA, 2004: Kelly wrote for a three-judge panel. upholding EPA regulations for the acceptable amount of sulfate and chloride a company can discharge into streams, noting that there was evidence to believe mineral levels in the water could hurt aquatic life. US v. Milton Gonzalez. 2014: Kelly wrote to uphold a three-year prison sentence for an undocumented immigrant who was taken into custody after a traffic stop: “Repeated violations of our immigration laws and the need to deter others from similar conduct warranted a lengthy sentence,” she wrote.= SCOTUS NOMINATION UPDATEPRESENTATION CENTER March 3, 2016 | Owen Minott Jr. Previous Experience Supervising Attorney, Federal Public Defender’s Office, Northern District of Iowa, Visiting Instructor, U. Illinois College of Law,

Obama Likely to Vet More Candidates March 3, 2016 | Owen W Minott Jr. Sources: “Potential Supreme Court Nominees,” The New York Times, February 14, 2016; Josh Gerstein, “Obama’s Supreme Court Short List,” Politico, February 14, 2016; Larissa Epatko, “Who’s in Line to Replace Justice Antonin Scalia? Here’s the Shortlist,” PBS, February 15, 2016; Dylan Matthews, “Who will Obama Choose to Replace Antonin Scalia? Here are 7 of the Strongest Candidates,” Vox, February 13, 2016; Charlie Savage, “Potential Nominees Obama May Consider to Fill Antonin Scalia’s Seat,” February 14, 2016; Jim McElhatton, “Loretta Lynch Questioned Over Secret Deal Depriving Fraud Victims of $40M,” Washington Times, January 4, 2015; CQ Roll Call, December 13, SCOTUS NOMINATION UPDATEPRESENTATION CENTER Other Potential Supreme Court Nominees Other Potential Nominees Circuit judges Patricia Millett and Adalberto Jordan are also top candidates California Attorney General Kamala Harris is a rising star among liberals, but has announced her plans to run for the Senate Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, Senators Amy Kobluchar (D-MN) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Stanford Law Professor Pam Karlan are all unlikely, but possible nominees Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval (R) was vetted, but has withdrawn his name from consideration Merrick Garland, 63 Chief judge, US Court of Appeals, DC District Garland has often been mentioned as a leading contender for a nomination to the Supreme Court. He is highly experienced, but older than some of the other potential nominees and would not diversify the bench. Loretta Lynch, 56 US Attorney General Lynch would be the first black woman ever nominated to the bench, which might pose a political problem during an election year if GOP Senators refused to even consider her nomination. Lynch already endured a contentious confirmation. Sri Srinivasan, 48 Judge, US Court of Appeals, DC Circuit Srinivasan was unanimously confirmed by the Senate in 2013, so it might be hard for GOP Senators to make a case for blocking him now. He clerked for Justice Sandra Day O’Connor; some liberals may consider him too moderate. Jacqueline Nguyen, 51 Judge, US Court of Appeals, 9 th Circuit Nguyen was confirmed by a 91-3 vote. She hasn’t issued many major decisions, which could make both Obama and the Senate more hesitant. She is a graduate of UCLA Law, which would be a form of diversity on a bench full of Ivy League JDs. Paul Watford, 48 Judge, US Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit Watford, an African American, is regarded as a moderate judge, but was confirmed by a less than unanimous vote in Like Nguyen, he is a graduate of UCLA Law. He clerked for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg.