Eleni M. Roumel

Eleni Maria Roumel (born 1974)[1] is the Chief Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims. She was designated as Chief Judge by President Donald Trump on October 19, 2020. She previously served as Deputy Counsel to Vice President Mike Pence.

Eleni M. Roumel
Chief Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims
Incumbent
Assumed office October 19, 2020
Appointed by	Donald Trump
Preceded by	Margaret M. Sweeney
Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims
Incumbent
Assumed office February 24, 2020
Appointed by	Donald Trump
Preceded by	Mary Ellen Coster Williams
Personal details
Born	Eleni Maria Roumel 1974 (age 46–47) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Education	Wake Forest University (BA) Freeman School of Business (MBA) Tulane University Law School (JD)

Education

Roumel earned her Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from Wake Forest University, her Master of Business Administration from the Tulane University A.B. Freeman School of Business, and her Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Tulane University Law School, where she graduated Order of the Coif and served as Notes & Comments Editor of the Tulane Law Review.[2][3]

Legal career

Roumel began her career as an associate at Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom. She then served as a law clerk to Judge William H. Pauley III of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Roumel was then an associate at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr. From 2006 to 2012, Roumel practiced at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, eventually becoming a partner. She also taught intellectual property law as an adjunct professor the Charleston School of Law. In 2012, Roumel became an Assistant General Counsel for the United States House of Representatives.[1][4][5][2] She left the office in 2018 to become Deputy Counsel to Vice President of the United States Mike Pence.[2] Roumel left the White House in 2020, upon becoming a judge.

Federal judicial service

On June 11, 2019, President Trump announced his intent to nominate Roumel to serve as a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims. On June 24, 2019, her nomination was sent to the Senate. President Trump nominated Roumel to the seat vacated by Judge Mary Ellen Coster Williams, who took senior status on July 13, 2018.[6] On July 17, 2019, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.[7] On October 17, 2019, her nomination was reported out of committee by a 12–10 vote.[8] On January 8, 2020, the United States Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a vote of 51–44,[9] and later that day, the Senate confirmed her nomination by a vote of 51–47.[10] She received her judicial commission on February 24, 2020. Vice President Mike Pence swore in Roumel on February 24, 2020, at a White House ceremony.[11][12] She was designated as Chief Judge on October 19, 2020.[3] Roumel is the first Greek-American woman to serve as a federal judge.[11][13]

Memberships

Roumel has been a member of the Federalist Society since approximately 2013.[1] She was also a member of the James L. Petigru American Inn of Court and a Congressional Fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution.[1]

References

1. United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary: Questionnaire for Judicial Nominees: Eleni M. Roumel
2. "President Donald J. Trump Announces Judicial Nominees" White House, June 11, 2019 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
3. "U.S. Court of Federal Claims Judges: Eleni M. Roumel". U.S. Court of Federal Claims.
4. "Hon. Paul D. Ryan, Thanking Eleni Roumel For Her Dedicated Service to the House". Congressional Record, U.S. House of Representatives, congress.gov. April 5, 2018.
5. "Recognition of Eleni M. Roumel". Hon. Kevin Brady, Congressional Record, U.S. House of Representatives, congress.gov. April 5, 2018.
6. "Thirteen Nominations and One Withdrawal Sent to the Senate", White House, June 24, 2019
7. "Nominations", United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary: Nominations for July 17, 2019
8. Results of Executive Business Meeting – October 17, 2019, Senate Judiciary Committee
9. "U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 116th Congress – 2nd Session". www.senate.gov. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
10. "Congress.gov". Congress.gov. January 7, 2020.
11. "Greek-American Eleni Roumel Appointed Federal Judge". National Herald. February 26, 2020.
12. "Eleni M. Roumel took the oath of office on February 24, 2020, as Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims". U.S. Court of Federal Claims. February 27, 2020.
13. "First Greek-American Woman Appointed Federal Judge". Greek USA Reporter. February 26, 2020.

External links

• Eleni M. Roumel at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.