Janis Graham Jack
Janis Graham Jack (born 1946) is a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
Janis Graham Jack | |
---|---|
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas | |
Assumed office June 1, 2011 | |
Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas | |
In office March 11, 1994 – June 1, 2011 | |
Appointed by | Bill Clinton |
Preceded by | Seat established by 104 Stat. 5089 |
Succeeded by | David S. Morales |
Personal details | |
Born | 1946 (age 76–77) Los Angeles, California |
Education | University of St. Thomas (Nursing Diploma) University of Baltimore (BA) South Texas College of Law (JD) |
Education and career
Jack was born in Los Angeles, California. She received a registered nursing diploma from St. Thomas School of Nursing (part of the University of St. Thomas) in 1969, a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from the University of Baltimore in 1974, and a Juris Doctor from South Texas College of Law in 1981. She was in private practice in Corpus Christi, Texas from 1981 to 1993.[1][2]
Federal judicial service
On November 19, 1993, Jack was nominated by President Bill Clinton to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas created by 104 Stat. 5089. She was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 10, 1994, and received her commission on March 11, 1994. She assumed senior status on June 1, 2011.[3]
Notable rulings
In June 2005, Jack threw out about 9,000 suits against US Silica corp.[4]
In 2015, Jack ruled in favor of plaintiffs in a class action suit (M.D. v. Abbott) on behalf of 10,000-plus foster children in care of the State of Texas, saying leaders were violating the constitutional rights of the children in its long-term foster care.[5] With much of her ruling sustained on appeal, Jack continues to supervise the case as late as 2022, holding the State in contempt of court and often expressing “disgust“ at the State of Texas’ failure to care for foster children.[6][7][8]
References
- Confirmation Hearings on Federal Appointments: Hearings Before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Third Congress, First Session on Confirmations of Appointees to the Federal Judiciary. Confirmation Hearings on Federal Appointments: Hearings Before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Third Congress, First Session on Confirmations of Appointees to the Federal Judiciary. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1995. p. 638. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
- "Judge Janis Graham Jack is our 2016 Texan of the Year". Dallas Morning News Interactives. December 23, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
- Janis Graham Jack at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
- Kimberly Strassel, "Ulizio: He fought the Tort Bar—and Won", Wall Street Journal, May 2, 2009.
- "M.D. v. Abbott". Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
- ”Editorial: Righteous anger, disgust at treatment of foster kids,” San Antonio Express-News, October 17, 2020.
- Bohra, Neelam (February 9, 2021). "Judge says Texas officials need to speed up foster care reforms". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
- Oxner, Reese (2022-03-30). "Judge loses trust in Texas' child abuse investigation of foster care facility and calls for federal inquiry". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
External links
- Janis Graham Jack at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.