Benjamin J. Beaton

Beaton is a 1999 graduate of Paducah Tilghman High School.[3] He earned his Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, from Centre College and his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Columbia Law School, where he served as an Articles Editor on the Columbia Law Review.[4]

Upon graduating from law school, Beaton served as a law clerk to Judge A. Raymond Randolph of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and to Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg of the Supreme Court of the United States. From 2012–2018, Beaton was an associate at Sidley Austin. From 2018–2020 he was a partner at Squire Patton Boggs where he co-chaired the firm's Appellate & Supreme Court practice group until his appointment to the bench. Beaton is an adjunct professor at the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, where he teaches constitutional interpretation.[4] Beaton is a member of the Federalist Society.[1][2]

On August 12, 2020, President Trump announced his intent to nominate Beaton to serve as a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.[4] On September 8, 2020, his nomination was sent to the Senate. President Trump nominated Beaton to the seat vacated by Judge Justin R. Walker, who was elevated to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on September 2, 2020.[5] On September 9, 2020, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.[6] On October 22, 2020, the Judiciary Committee reported his nomination by a 12–0 vote.[7] On November 17, 2020, cloture was invoked on his nomination by a vote of 52–44.[8] He was confirmed later that day by a vote of 52–44.[9] He received his judicial commission on December 1, 2020.

• Benjamin J. Beaton at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.