Newly-Confirmed Allison Rushing Is the Country's Youngest Federal Judge
Allison Jones Rushing, newly confirmed to a federal appeals court, is the youngest judge in the United States judiciary.
At 37, she will take a seat on the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals with judges who were practicing law before she was born. Not that age matters, but Rushing will certainly bring a fresh perspective to the court.
After all, President Trump has been looking for younger judicial nominees to shape the highest courts. Rushing was the youngest one on his list.
Appellate Matters
A 2007 graduate from Duke University School of Law, Rushing worked for Williams & Connolly on civil and criminal cases. She focused on appellate matters in state and federal courts.
Her limited experience was an issue at her confirmation hearing. Sen. Dick Durbin, a Democrat, noted that she tried only four cases to conclusion -- and not as lead counsel.
"That is the most scant, weakest legal resumé imaginable for someone who's seeking a lifetime appointment to the second-highest court of the land," he said.
On the other side of the aisle, Republican Sen. Thom Tillis said Rushing was "one of the fast-rising stars in the legal profession." The Senate voted 53-44 to confirm her.
Age Matters?
According to some reports, Rushing is 36 years old. Apparently, that's because she was 36 when she was nominated last year.
But does age really matter when it comes to a lifetime appointment? On the other end of the spectrum, for example, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is 85 and that doesn't seem to matter.
Except, of course, to President Trump. When Ginsburg was hospitalized recently, he already had a plan to replace her.
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