Janet T. Neff
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan
Assumed office
March 1, 2021
Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan
In office
August 6, 2007 – March 1, 2021
Appointed byGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byDavid McKeague
Succeeded byJane M. Beckering
Personal details
Born
Janet Theresa Nebiolo

(1945-04-08) April 8, 1945[1]
Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Pittsburgh (BA)
Wayne State University Law School (JD)

Janet Theresa Neff (born April 8, 1945) is a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan.

Early life and education

Born in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, Neff graduated from University of Pittsburgh with her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1967 and later from Wayne State University Law School with a Juris Doctor in 1970.

Following law school graduation, Neff was an assistant city attorney for the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan, from 1971 to 1973. She was in private practice in Michigan from 1973 to 1978 and from 1980 to 1988. She was a Commissioner, Michigan Supreme Court from 1978 to 1980. She became an Assistant United States Attorney of the U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Michigan in 1980. She was a judge on the Michigan Court of Appeals from 1989 to 2007.[2]

Federal judicial career

Neff was nominated to the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan by President George W. Bush on March 19, 2007, to a seat vacated by David McKeague.[2] Despite the blocking of her confirmation vote by U.S. Senator Sam Brownback from Kansas because she had attended a same-sex commitment ceremony, Neff was confirmed by the Senate on July 9, 2007, by a 83–4 vote.[3][4] She received her commission on August 6, 2007.[2] She assumed senior status on March 1, 2021.[2]

Notable cases

She has generated controversy over her stance over a federal gun control issue caused by Kent County Sheriff Larry Stelma over his comments that he "will not abide by or enforce federal law which he determines to be unconstitutional".[5]

In 2015, Judge Neff dismissed a lawsuit against Eaton County, MI. The lawsuit was brought by the family of two murder victims, Michael and Terri Greene, who were murdered during a home invasion by an Eaton County jail inmate, Christopher Perrien, who was released by the jail each day to go to a work release job at a company that did not exist. The county failed to verify that the company was real before releasing Perrien on work release status.[6]

In 2017, Judge Neff sentenced serial sexual predator and former United States Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar to 60 years in federal prison.[7]

In September 2019, Neff sentenced child sex trafficker Ricardo Urbina to 40 years in prison.[8]

On June 29, 2020, Neff ruled that Michigan's independent re-districting commission is constitutional, in a blow to the state GOP.[9]

On December 2, 2020, Neff declined to sanction the Trump campaign over an alleged disinformation tactic.[10]

In January 2021, Neff dismissed a lawsuit brought by 10 former Michigan officials who sought to overturn term limits for state offices.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Chardavoyne, David Gardner; Brenneman, Hugh W. Jr. (October 6, 2020). A Lincoln Legacy: The History of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan. Wayne State University Press. ISBN 9780814348055 – via Google Books.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Janet T. Neff at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  3. ↑ "On the Nomination (Confirmation Janet T. Neff, of Michigan, to be U.S. District Judge)".
  4. ↑ Senate rejects Brownback's concerns about judge, Reuters, July 9, 2007. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  5. ↑ Loman, Amanda (2013-02-01). "Letters to the editor: U.S. District Judge Neff questions sheriff's stand on federal gun proposals". MLive.com. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
  6. ↑ Palmer, Ken (March 31, 2015). "Judge tosses family's suit against Eaton Co., MDOC". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  7. ↑ Murphy, Dan (December 7, 2017). "Larry Nassar receives maximum 60-year sentence from federal judge". ABC News. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Muskegon Child Sex Trafficker Sentenced To 40 Years In Federal Prison". September 23, 2019. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  9. ↑ Beggin, Riley (July 6, 2020). "Federal judge dismisses GOP case against Michigan redistricting commission". Bridge MI. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  10. ↑ Wolfe, Jan (December 2, 2020). "U.S. Judge Declines to Sanction Trump Campaign Over Alleged 'Disinformation' Tactic". US News. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  11. ↑ LeBlanc, Beth (January 22, 2021). "Federal judge rejects former lawmakers' bid to overturn term limits". Detroit News. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
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