Thomas B. Russell Explained

Thomas Banister Russell
Office:Judge of the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court
Term Start:May 19, 2015
Term End:May 18, 2022
Appointer:John Roberts
Predecessor:James Zagel
Successor:Joan N. Ericksen
Office1:Judge of the Alien Terrorist Removal Court
Term Start1:2016
Term End1:2021
Appointer1:John Roberts
Predecessor1:James C. Cacheris
Successor1:Louis Guirola Jr.
Office2:Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
Term Start2:November 15, 2011
Term End2:September 1, 2023
Office3:Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
Term Start3:2008
Term End3:2011
Predecessor3:John G. Heyburn II
Successor3:Joseph H. McKinley Jr.
Office4:Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
Term Start4:October 11, 1994
Term End4:November 15, 2011
Appointer4:Bill Clinton
Predecessor4:Edward Huggins Johnstone
Successor4:Gregory N. Stivers
Birth Name:Thomas Banister Russell
Birth Date:15 November 1945
Birth Place:Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Education:
University of Kentucky (JD)

Thomas Banister Russell (born November 15, 1945)[1] is a former United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. He also served as a judge of the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court from 2015 to 2022. He served as a judge of the Alien Terrorist Removal Court from 2016 to 2021.

Education and career

Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Russell received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Kentucky University in 1967 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1970. He was in private practice in Paducah, Kentucky from 1970 to 1994.

Federal judicial service

On September 14, 1994, Russell was nominated by President Bill Clinton to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky vacated by Edward Huggins Johnstone. Russell was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 7, 1994, and received his commission on October 11, 1994. He served as Chief Judge from 2008 to 2011. He took senior status on November 15, 2011. He served as a judge of the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court from 2015 to 2022. He served as a judge of the Alien Terrorist Removal Court from 2016 to 2021. He retired from active service on September 1, 2023.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Hearings before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Third Congress, Second Session, on Confirmations of Appointees to the Federal Judiciary, September 28; October 4 and 6, 1994. 672. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1996.