Know a Nominee: Justice Robert Luck to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals

UPDATED - 11/19/19: The Senate cast a bipartisan vote of 64-31 to confirm Justice Robert Luck to be a judge on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday.

UPDATED - 11/18/19: The Senate voted 60-31 to limit further debate on Justice Luck's nomination to the 11th Circuit Court. A confirmation vote is expected Tuesday.

The Senate is expected to consider the nomination of Justice Robert Luck to be a judge on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, beginning with a procedural vote to limit further debate on Monday that would set up a likely confirmation vote Tuesday. Here’s what you need to know about the nominee:

Who is he?

• Robert Luck, 40, is a Justice of the Florida Supreme Court and has served in that role since January 2019. He previously served as a judge of Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal from 2017-2019, and before that was a judge of Florida’s 11th Judicial Circuit Court from 2013-2017.
• Before taking the bench as a judge, Luck worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Florida and taught law for two years at Alabama State University.
• Luck earned his undergraduate degree with highest honors from the University of Florida, and graduated with honors from the University of Florida Levin College of Law where he was the editor of the law review.

What’s the outlook for his confirmation?

• The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Justice Robert Luck’s nomination to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals on a bipartisan 16-6 vote. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Chris Coons (D-DE) joined all Republicans by voting in favor. 
• 2020 Democratic presidential contenders Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Kamala Harris (D-CA), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) opposed Luck’s nomination through proxy votes, while Sens. Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) were in attendance and voted no.
• The American Bar Association’s judicial nomination review board gave Luck’s nomination a unanimous rating of “well qualified”.

What does it mean for the 11th Circuit?

• Luck’s confirmation would fill a judgeship to be vacated by Chief Judge Gerald Tjoflat (a Gerald Ford nominee), the longest serving federal appeals judge on active service who announced he will take senior status & retire upon the confirmation of his successor. Tjoflat’s duty station is in Jacksonville, Florida.
• The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals has 12 active judgeships. Of the judges currently on the bench, one was appointed by Gerald Ford, two by Bill Clinton, one by George W. Bush, four by Barack Obama, and three by Donald Trump.

— Eric Revell

(Photo Credit: iStock.com / imaginima)