Halil Suleyman Ozerden

In today's world, Halil Suleyman Ozerden has become a topic of great relevance and interest to a wide spectrum of society. On both a personal and professional level, Halil Suleyman Ozerden has made a significant impact on our lives. In order to better understand this phenomenon and offer a broad and detailed vision, in this article we will explore different aspects related to Halil Suleyman Ozerden. From its origins to its influence on the present, including its future implications, we will delve into an exhaustive analysis that seeks to shed light on this very important topic. By exploring relevant studies, testimonials, and data, we hope to provide a comprehensive and enriching view of Halil Suleyman Ozerden that our readers may find useful and enlightening.

Sul Ozerden
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 4, 2024
Preceded byDaniel P. Jordan III
Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi
Incumbent
Assumed office
May 1, 2007
Appointed byGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byDavid C. Bramlette
Personal details
Born
Halil Suleyman Ozerden

(1966-12-05) December 5, 1966 (age 58)
Hattiesburg, Mississippi, U.S.
EducationGeorgetown University (BS)
Stanford University (JD)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Navy
Years of service1989–1995
Rank Lieutenant
Battles/warsOperation Restore Hope Operation Southern Watch
Awards
See list

Halil Suleyman "Sul" Ozerden (Turkish: Halil Süleyman Özerden; born December 5, 1966) is the chief United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi and a former nominee to be a circuit judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Early life and education

Ozerden was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi to a Turkish family. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service at Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service. Sul was a four-year Navy ROTC scholarship student, serving as battalion executive officer (1989). Upon receiving his commission as a naval officer, he completed United States Navy Flight School in Pensacola, Florida, from 1989 to 1990, and was designated a naval flight officer. Ozerden obtained his Juris Doctor in 1998 from Stanford Law School, and served as associate editor for the Stanford Law Review.

Military Service

Ozerden served as a commissioned officer in the United States Navy from 1989 to 1995. His military service included: naval flight officer/bombardier-navigator, A-6E Intruder; over 1,000 flight hours; mission commander qualified; two six-month Western Pacific deployments aboard the USS Kitty Hawk; head of Safety Department; Navy Commendation Medal for missions flown in Operation Restore Hope (Somalia) and Operation Southern Watch (Iraq); and the Navy Achievement Medal. He was honorably discharged with the rank of lieutenant (O-3).[2][3]

Ozerden began his legal career as a law clerk to Judge Eldon E. Fallon of the Eastern District of Louisiana from 1998 to 1999 and also served as a private practice attorney licensed in Mississippi from 1999 to 2007.

Federal judicial service

On the recommendation of United States Senators Thad Cochran and Trent Lott, President George W. Bush nominated Ozerden to be a United States district judge of the Southern District of Mississippi on January 8, 2007. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on April 24, 2007 by a 95–0 vote.[4] He received his commission on May 1, 2007.[5] He became chief judge on November 4, 2024.[6]

In 2023, Ozerden sided with a lawsuit filed by an anti-vaccine group to overturn Mississippi's long-standing and strict vaccination requirements. Ozerden forced Mississippi to allow parents to decline vaccinations for their children on religious grounds. At the time, Mississippi law had since 1979 not allowed parents to exempt their children from vaccinations, except for medical reasons. This had resulted in Mississippi having one of the highest vaccination rates in the United States, with 99% of kindergarteners being immunized.[7]

Failed nomination to appellate court

On June 11, 2019, President Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate Ozerden to serve as a United States circuit judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.[8] On June 24, 2019, his nomination was sent to the Senate. He was nominated to the seat vacated by E. Grady Jolly, who assumed senior status on October 3, 2017.[9] On July 17, 2019, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.[10] On September 12, 2019, Senator Ted Cruz announced his opposition to the nomination.[11] The Judiciary Committee was scheduled to vote on recommending Ozerden on September 26, 2019, but the vote was postponed after Senator Josh Hawley joined Ted Cruz in his opposition to Ozerden's elevation to the court of appeals.[12] On January 3, 2020, his nomination was returned to the President under Rule XXXI, Paragraph 6 of the United States Senate.[13]

Memberships

Ozerden became a member of the Federalist Society in 2019.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary: Questionnaire for Judicial Nominees: Halil Suleyman Ozerden
  2. ^ "Ozerden, Halil Suleyman | Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  3. ^ "First Turkish American United States District Judge". www.tc-america.org. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  4. ^ "On the Nomination (Confirmation Halil Suleyman Ozerden, of Mississippi, to be U.S. District Judge)". United States Senate. April 24, 2007. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  5. ^ Halil Suleyman Ozerden at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  6. ^ "Chief District Judge Sul Ozerden" (Press release). United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. November 4, 2024. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  7. ^ "How a well-timed legal assault unraveled Mississippi's stellar record in vaccinating kids". NBC News. 2023-12-16.
  8. ^ "President Donald J. Trump Announces Judicial Nominees" White House, June 11, 2019 Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  9. ^ "Thirteen Nominations and One Withdrawal Sent to the Senate", White House, June 24, 2019
  10. ^ "Nominations", United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary: Nominations for July 17, 2019
  11. ^ Everett, Burgess; Levine, Marianne; Johnson, Eliana (12 September 2019). "Ted Cruz will oppose Trump's judicial nominee". POLITICO. Retrieved 2019-09-13.
  12. ^ "Senate Judiciary shelves vote on Trump judicial pick after conservative opposition". Politico. September 26, 2019. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
  13. ^ "PN896 - Nomination of Halil Suleyman Ozerden for The Judiciary, 116th Congress (2019–2020)". www.congress.gov. 2020-01-03. Retrieved 2020-01-04.
Legal offices
Preceded by Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi
2007–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi
2024–present