Senate Confirms Leahy Pick to

U.S. Sentencing Commission

...Vermont’s Chief Federal Judge Sessions reappointed to panel

 December 10, 2003

WASHINGTON (Wed, Dec. 10, 2003) – The Senate on Tuesday confirmed the reappointment of Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court of Vermont William K. Sessions III to a second term on the United States Sentencing Commission.

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) recommended that President Bush reappoint Sessions earlier this year.  Sessions was appointed to the Commission in 1999, when Leahy first recommended him to former President Clinton for the post.  His new term expires in 2009.

 “As a hard-working and well-respected member of the federal bench, Judge Sessions has been an asset to the Commission,” said Leahy, the ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee.  “This bipartisan support for Judge Sessions reflects his value to the Commission and provides another example of how well the process works when we select consensus nominees.”

 The seven-member, nonpartisan Commission is an independent agency within the judicial branch that develops guidelines for sentencing criminal defendants in federal courts, collects data about crime and sentencing; and serves as a resource to Congress, the Executive Branch, and the Judiciary on crime and sentencing policy.

 Sessions is the Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont, where he has served since August of 1995.  He has served on the Sentencing Commission since October of 1999. 

 Prior to becoming a judge, he was a partner in his own firm from 1978-1995.  He was an Adjunct Professor at the Vermont Law School from 1978-1995.  He worked for the Addison County Public Defender from 1974-1978.  He served in the United States Army from 1972-1973.

 

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