Jane Richards Roth

Jane Richards Roth (born June 16, 1935) is an American attorney and jurist serving as a Senior United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. She was previously a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware.

Jane Richards Roth
Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Incumbent
Assumed office May 31, 2006
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
In office July 2, 1991 – May 31, 2006
Appointed by	George H. W. Bush
Preceded by	Collins J. Seitz
Succeeded by	Kent A. Jordan
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware
In office November 1, 1985 – July 22, 1991
Appointed by	Ronald Reagan
Preceded by	Walter King Stapleton
Succeeded by	Sue Lewis Robinson
Personal details
Born	June 16, 1935 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Spouse(s)	William V. Roth Jr.
Education	Smith College (BA) Harvard Law School (LLB)

Early life and education

Roth was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Smith College in 1956 and a Bachelor of Laws from Harvard Law School in 1965.[1]

Career

She worked as a typist and administrative assistant in the United States Foreign Service from 1956 to 1962. She was stationed in Tehran, Iran from 1957 to 1959 and Salisbury, Rhodesia in 1960. She was stationed in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo from 1960 to 1962.

She worked in private practice of law in Wilmington, Delaware from 1965 to 1985, with the law firm of Richards, Layton & Finger.[2]

Federal judicial service

Roth was nominated by President Ronald Reagan on October 16, 1985, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Delaware vacated by Judge Walter King Stapleton.[3] She was confirmed by the United States Senate on November 1, 1985, and received commission on November 4, 1985. Her service was terminated on July 22, 1991, due to elevation to the Third Circuit.[2]

Roth was nominated by President George H. W. Bush on May 16, 1991, to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit vacated by Judge Collins J. Seitz. She was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 27, 1991, and received commission on July 2, 1991. She assumed senior status on May 31, 2006.[2]

Roth was inducted into the Hall of Fame of Delaware Women in 2013.[4]

View of Nomination

When asked about the nomination and whether she felt that her husband's support at the time was beneficial, Roth stated; "I believe if I were not qualified his recommendation would make no difference..." and that the fact that she was a woman and the Reagan administration was looking for more women judges was more advantageous.[3]

Personal life

Her husband was the late Delaware Senator William V. Roth, Jr. They had two children, Katharine K. Roth and William V. Roth III[5] and her daughter Katherine passed away in 2014.[6]

References

1. Gaza, Anne Shea (September 2017). "Hon. Jane Richards Roth, Senior Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit" (PDF). The Federal Lawyer: 30–34. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-05-29. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
2. "Roth, Jane Richards - Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.
3. Kurtz, Howard (1985-05-24). "Sen. Roth's Wife Picked To Be a Federal Judge". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
4. "Four Delaware Women to Be Honored at March 21 Event". Delaware Commission for Women. March 5, 2013.
5. Wald, Matthew L. (December 15, 2003). "William V. Roth Jr., Veteran of U.S. Senate, Dies at 82". The New York Times. The New York Times. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
6. "KATHERINE ROTH Obituary (2014) - The Washington Post". www.legacy.com. Retrieved 2021-02-05.

External links

• FJC Bio