Michael Juneau

Michael Joseph Juneau was a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. He was nominated to the court by President Donald Trump (R) on January 8, 2018, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on October 11, 2018, by a vote of 54-41. ^[1] To see a full list of judges appointed by Donald Trump, click here. Juneau assumed senior status on February 1, 2022. His service ended on May 12, 2023, upon his death.^[2][3]

The United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana is one of 94 U.S. District Courts. They are the general trial courts of the United States federal courts. To learn more about the court, click here.

Juneau was previously a founding member and shareholder at Juneau David, APLC, a Lafayette, Louisiana-based law firm.^[4]

President Trump also nominated Juneau to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana August 3, 2017. His nomination was returned to the president January 3, 2018.^[4][5]

Judicial nominations and appointments

United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana

See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump

Juneau was nominated to the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana by President Donald Trump (R) on January 8, 2018. The U.S. Senate confirmed Juneau on October 11, 2018, by a vote of 54-41.^[1] He received commission on October 17, 2018.^[2] To read more about the federal nomination process, click here.

Nomination Tracker
Nominee Information
Name: Michael Joseph Juneau
Court: United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana
Progress
Confirmed 276 days after nomination.
Nominated: January 8, 2018
ABA Rating: Substantial Majority Qualified, Minority Well Qualified
Questionnaire: Questionnaire
Hearing:
QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
Reported: January 18, 2018
Confirmed: October 11, 2018
Vote: 54-41

Confirmation vote

The U.S. Senate confirmed Juneau on October 11, 2018, on a vote of 54-41.^[1] To see a full breakdown of the vote on the official U.S. Senate website, click here.

Michael Juneau confirmation vote (October 11, 2018)
Party	Yea	Nay	No vote
Democratic	4	39	1
Republican	50	0	1
Independent	0	2	0
Total	54	41	5

Senate Judiciary Committee hearing

Juneau had his hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on January 18, 2018. The committee voted to advance Juneau's nomination to the full Senate on January 18, 2018.^[1]

Nomination

Juneau was nominated to replace Judge Richard Haik, who assumed senior status on March 6, 2015, and retired on January 15, 2016.

The American Bar Association rated Juneau qualified by a substantial majority and well qualified by a minority for the position.^[6] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.

Western District of Louisiana (2017)

See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump

President Trump nominated Juneau August 3, 2017, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana vacated by Richard Haik. The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on Juneau's nomination October 4, 2017. U.S. Sen. Grassley reported the nomination October 26. On January 3, 2018, Juneau's nomination was returned to the president under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.^[5][7]

Early life and education

Juneau was born in Monroe, Louisana, in 1962. He earned a B.S. magna cum laude from Louisiana State University in 1984 and a J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1987. During his legal studies, Juneau was named best oralist at the Ames Moot Court Competition.^[4][2]

Professional career

• 2018-2023: Judge, United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana
  • 2022-2023: Senior judge
• 1987-2018: Private practice, Lafayette, La.^[4]

About the court

Western District of Louisiana
Fifth Circuit
Judgeships
Posts: 7
Judges: 6
Vacancies: 1
Judges
Chief: Terry A. Doughty
Active judges: James D. Cain, Jr., Terry A. Doughty, Jerry Edwards Jr., Maurice Hicks, David C. Joseph, Robert Summerhays Senior judges: Dee Drell, Elizabeth Erny Foote, Robert James, Tucker Melancon, James Trimble, Donald Walter

The United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana is one of 94 United States district courts. When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, based in New Orleans, at the John Minor Wisdom Federal Courthouse.

The Western District of Louisiana has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.

The geographic jurisdiction of the Western District of Louisiana consists of all the following parishes in the western part of the state of Louisiana.^[8]

The federal nomination process

Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:

• The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
• The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
• The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.

• As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.

• After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.

• If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
• If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.

• The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.

• If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
• If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.

See also

• United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana
• United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit

External links

• Search Google News for this topic
• Biography from the Federal Judicial Center
• United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana
• United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit
• Biography from Juneau David APLC

Footnotes