Chad Readler

Readler (pronounced: RAYD-ler) earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan and his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of Michigan Law School, where he served on the editorial board of the University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform. After graduating from law school, he served as a law clerk for Judge Alan Eugene Norris of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Readler began his legal career in the Columbus, Ohio, office of Jones Day, including spending ten years as a partner in the Issues and Appeals Group.[2] While at Jones Day, Readler represented the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company.[3] He also successfully argued before the Supreme Court of the United States in McQuiggin v. Perkins on behalf of a pro bono client claiming actual innocence. His other pro bono representations include representing capital defendants before the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit and the Supreme Court of Ohio, representing defendants sentenced to life in prison before the Sixth Circuit, and challenging dismissals of claims filed by pro se litigants.[2]

Prior to becoming a judge, Readler was Principal Deputy United States Assistant Attorney General for the United States Department of Justice Civil Division, a position he held beginning on January 30, 2017. Readler previously served as Acting United States Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division from January 2017 to September 2018. In that role, Readler led and supervised the Department's largest litigating division and actively briefed and argued several cases on behalf of the United States in federal courts across the country.[2]

On June 7, 2018, President Trump announced his intent to nominate Readler to serve as a United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.[2] On June 18, 2018, his nomination was sent to the Senate. President Trump nominated Readler to the seat being vacated by Judge Deborah L. Cook, who previously announced her intention to take senior status on a date to be determined.[4] In June 2018, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown said he did not plan to return a blue slip for Readler's nomination, while U.S. Senator Rob Portman said he planned to support Readler's nomination.[5] On October 10, 2018, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.[6]

During his confirmation proceedings, Democrats criticized Readler for having supported a Republican lawsuit aimed at dismantling the Affordable Care Act, including its protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions.[7][8]

On January 3, 2019, his nomination was returned to the President under Rule XXXI, Paragraph 6 of the United States Senate. He was renominated on January 23, 2019.[9] On February 7, 2019, his nomination was reported out of committee by a 12–10 vote.[10] On March 5, 2019, the Senate voted to invoke cloture on the nomination by a vote of 53–45.[11] On March 6, 2019, his nomination was confirmed by a vote of 52–47.[12] He received his judicial commission on March 7, 2019.

He is a member of the Federalist Society.[13]

• Donald Trump judicial appointment controversies

• Chad Readler at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
• Chad Readler at Ballotpedia
• Appearances at the U.S. Supreme Court from the Oyez Project