Ronnie L. White
This is the page for the U.S. District Court judge for the Eastern District of Missouri. If you are looking for the Texas justice of the peace, please see: Ronnie White.
Ronnie L. White was a federal judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. White was nominated by President Barack Obama on November 7, 2013, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, a seat he had been nominated for in the past.[1] The United States Senate confirmed White on July 16, 2014, on a vote of 53-44.[2] He retired from the court on July 31, 2024.[3]
Prior to joining the court, he was a partner for the law firm Holloran White Schwartz & Gaertner LLP.
Early life and education
White earned his B.A. from the St. Louis University in 1979 and his J.D. from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law in 1983.[1]
Military service
Ronnie L. White served in the Unite States Army Reserve from 1971 to 1980. He was honorably discharged.[4]
Professional career
- 2014-2024: Judge, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
- 2007-2014: Partner, Holloran White Schwartz & Gaertner LLP
- 1996-2014: Adjunct Professor, Washington University School of Law, St. Louis, Missouri
- 1995-2007: Justice, Missouri Supreme Court
- 2003-2005: Chief Justice, Missouri Supreme Court
- 1994-1995: Judge, Missouri Court of Appeals
- 1993-1994: City Counselor, St. Louis, Missouri
- 1989-1993: Representative, Missouri House of Representatives
- 1988-1993: Attorney, Cahill, White & Hemphill
- 1987-1988: Attorney, Young, Russell, Crawford & Black
- 1987-1988: Attorney, Office of the Special Public Defender
- 1987-1989: Trial Attorney, Office of the Public Defender, St. Louis, Missouri[1]
Judicial career
Eastern District of Missouri
 |
| Nominee Information |
| Name: Ronnie L. White |
| Court: Eastern District of Missouri |
| Progress |
| Confirmed 251 days after nomination. |
 Nominated: November 7, 2013
|
| ABA Rating: Unanimously Qualified
|
| Questionnaire: Questionnaire |
| Hearing: May 20, 2014
|
| QFRs: QFRs (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
| Reported: June 19, 2014
|
| Confirmed: July 16, 2014
|
| Vote: 53-44
|
On November 7, 2013, Ronnie L. White was nominated by President Barack Obama to fill a vacancy on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. The vacancy was created when Jean C. Hamilton took senior status in July of 2013. This is third time White has been nominated for the court. The first two were by President Bill Clinton in the 1990s. Both of his previous nominations were filibustered by then Senator John Ashcroft. Ashcroft filibustered the confirmations on the grounds that White was "pro-criminal" due to his opinions on death penalty cases, White supporters claimed that the filibusters were racially driven.[5] Statements about the confirmation:
| “ | These individuals have demonstrated the talent, expertise, and fair-mindedness Americans expect and deserve from their judicial system... I am grateful for their willingness to serve and confident that they will apply the law with the utmost impartiality and integrity. | ” |
| —President Barack Obama, [1] | ||
| “ | Fourteen years ago, Missourians were deprived of an outstanding federal judge, when then-Sen. John Ashcroft, R-Mo., blocked President Clinton’s nomination of Ronnie White to be a judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri... Judge White had an outstanding record as the first African-American judge of the Missouri Supreme Court. But his nomination fell victim to the same kind of Republican obstruction that now has become routine. | ” |
| —Nan Aron, Alliance for Justice President, [7] | ||
White was rated Unanimously Qualified by the American Bar Association.[8]
White's nomination was returned by the Senate on January 3, 2014, and he was renominated on January 6th by President Obama.[9]
The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing for White on May 20, 2014, the full hearing can be seen here.[10] The Senate Judiciary Committee reported White to the full Senate on June 19, 2014, on a vote of 10-7.[11]
The United States Senate confirmed White on July 17, 2014, on a vote of 53-44.[2]
Senator Claire McCaskill spoke on the floor about White's confirmation.
Awards and associations
Awards
- 2013: Super Lawyers
- 2011: Heschel King Award
- 2008: Service Award, Human Development Corporation of Metropolitan St. Louis Community
- 2008: Supreme Court of Missouri, Chief Justice Award
- 2007, 2008: Mound City Bar Association Distinguished Jurist Award
- 2007: Missouri Association of Social Welfare Special Public Service Award
- 2007: MOKAN, Legacy Award in Recognition of Distinguished Career Achievements
- 2006, 2007: Mound City Bar Association Legal Legend Award
- 2005: Federal Defense Bars of the Southern District of Illinois and Eastern District of Missouri
- 2004: Alpha Kappa Alpha, Community Service Award
- 2003: St. Louis Gateway Classic Sports Foundation Walk of Fame
- 2003: Mount City Bar Association First African American Presiding Judge Award
- 2003: Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis Gallery of St. Louis Legal Pioneers Award
- 2003: NAACP St. Louis Branch Award for Leadership and Community Service
- 2003: Lincoln University Trailblazer Award
- 2003: NAACP Jefferson City Branch Community Service Award
- 2003: Wayman African Methodist Episcopal Church Award for Meritorious Service to the Community
- 2003: Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis Distinguished Lawyer Award
- 2002: University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law, Distinguished Non-Alumni Award
- 2002: St. Louis Board of Alderman, Black History Month Award
- 2001: Harris Stowe State University Outstanding Public Service Award
- 2001: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. State Celebration Commission Distinguished Statesman Award
- 2000: St. Louis University, Honorary Doctorate Degree
- 2000: Harris Stowe State University Honorary Doctorate Degree
- 2000: Mound City Bar Association Legal Service Award
- 1999: Elijah P. Lovejoy Award
- 1998: St. Louis University Honorary Doctorate Award
- 1997: St. Louis Community College at Forest Park Distinguished Community Service Award
- 1996: National Black Law Students Association Midwest Region Award for Commitment and Service to Law Students
- 1995: Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis Award in Honor of Appointment to Supreme Court of Missouri
- 1993: Youth Build of St. Louis, Certificate of Appreciation
- 1993: University of Missouri - St. Louis, Outstanding Public Service Award
- 1993: St. Louis Women's Political Caucus, President's "Good Guy Award"
- 1993: Harris Stowe State College, Award for Effort in Expanding Mission of College
- 1992-1993: Dropout Prevention Project - Law & Citizenship Education Unit, Certificate of Gratitude
- 1992: Missouri Bar Association Award
- 1990-1991: Law and Consumer Education, Certificate of Appreciation
- 1990: American Cancer Society, Certificate of Appreciation
- 1992: Women of Color Partnership Program Award[4]
Associations
- 2013: Merit Selection Panel for the Consideration of the Appointment of a United States Magistrate Judge
- 2008-2009: Program Director, Missouri Drug Card Program
- 2007-Present: Lawyers Association of St. Louis
- 2007-Present: American Association of Justice
- 2007-Present: Board Member, Loyola Academy of St. Louis
- 2007-Present: Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys
- 2007-Present: St. Louis County Bar Association
- 2007-Present: Anniversary Club
- 2007-2010: Board Member, Guardian Angel Settlement Association
- 2007-2009: Honorary Co-Chair, Missourians for Fair and Impartial Courts Committee
- 2003-Present: Advisory Board Member, Commercial Bank of St. Louis
- 2003-2005: Chairman, Appellate Judicial Commission
- 1995-Present: Member (inactive), Eta Boule Fraternity
- 1994-1998: Gender Task Force Committee for the Supreme Court of Missouri
- 1994-1996: Board Member, Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club of St. Louis
- 1993-2000: Board Member, Jamison Memorial C.M.E. Church Youth Group
- 1993-1994: Board Member, Regional Justice Information Services
- 1989-1990: Board Member, St. Louis Housing Authority
- 1987-1993: American Association of Trial Attorneys
- 1987-1989: Board Member, Maria Droste Residence for Women
- 1985-Present: Metropolitan Bar Association of St. Louis
- 1985-Present: Mound City Bar Association[4]
See also
External links
- Holloran Law, "Ronnie L. White," accessed November 11, 2013
- Biography from the Federal Judicial Center
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 White House, "President Obama Nominates Three to Serve on the United States District Courts," November 7, 2013
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 United States Senate, "On the Nomination (Confirmation Ronnie L. White, of Missouri, to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri)," accessed July 17, 2014
- ↑ The Federal Judicial Center, "White, Ronnie Lee," accessed July 31, 2024
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Senate Judiciary Committee, "Questionnaire for Judicial Nominees," accessed May 21, 2014
- ↑ St. Louis Post-Dispatch, "Obama nominates Ronnie White to federal judgeship he was once denied," November 7, 2013
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Legal Newline, "Obama nominates former Mo. SC judge to federal court — 14 years after failed nomination," November 8, 2013
- ↑ American Bar Association, "Ratings of Article III Judicial Nominees," accessed November 14, 2013
- ↑ White House, "Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate," January 7, 2014
- ↑ Senate Judicial Committee, "Judicial Nominees," May 20, 2014
- ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee, "Results of Executive Business Meeting - June 19 2014," June 19, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jean Hamilton |
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri 2014-2024 |
Succeeded by - |
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominated | |||
Federal courts:
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Missouri, Western District of Missouri • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Missouri, Western District of Missouri
State courts:
Missouri Supreme Court • Missouri Court of Appeals • Missouri Circuit Courts • Missouri Municipal Courts
State resources:
Courts in Missouri • Missouri judicial elections • Judicial selection in Missouri