Keith Gary Sebelius (born November 8, 1949), known professionally as K. Gary Sebelius or Gary Sebelius, is a former magistrate judge and a former federal judicial nominee to the United States District Court for the District of Kansas. He is the husband of former United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and also served as the First Gentleman of Kansas from 2003 to 2009, while his wife was governor.
Early life and education
Sebelius was born in Norton, Kansas, the son of Elizabeth Adeline (née Roberts) and Keith George Sebelius, a United States congressman from Kansas.[1] Sebelius earned a bachelor's degree magna cum laude from Kansas State University in 1971 and a J.D. degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1974.[2]
Professional career
Before becoming a judge, Sebelius had a long career as a lawyer in Topeka, Kansas. He worked as an associate at the law firm of Eidson, Lewis, Porter & Haynes from 1974 until 1979, and then served as a partner at the firm from 1979 until 1989.[3] From 1989 until 1993, Sebelius was a partner at the firm of Davis, Wright, Unrein, Hummer & McCallister.[3] Sebelius then worked as a partner at the Topeka law firm Wright, Henson, Somers, Sebelius, Clark & Baker from 1993 until 2003.[4] During his time in private practice, Sebelius became best known for defending the Topeka Board of Education in the reopened Brown v. Board of Education case in federal court.[5][6][7]
Failed nomination to district court
On June 6, 2000, President Bill Clinton nominated Sebelius to be a judge on the United States District Court for the District of Kansas to fill the vacancy created by the decision by Judge George Thomas Van Bebber to take senior status.[8] However, with the United States Senate controlled by Republicans, many of Clinton's judicial nominations languished. In particular, Sebelius' nomination was reported to have been held up by Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback.[9] President George W. Bush later successfully appointed Julie A. Robinson to the seat to which Sebelius had been nominated.
Work as a U.S. magistrate judge
On August 16, 2002, the judges on the United States District Court for the District of Kansas appointed Sebelius to an eight-year term as a United States magistrate judge. Sebelius began hearing cases in February 2003 and was formally sworn in on June 11, 2003.[10] He retired from the bench on February 20, 2019.[11]
Personal
Sebelius married his wife, Kathleen Sebelius on New Year's Eve 1974.[12] They have two sons.
References
- ^ "Ancestry of Kathleen Sebelius". www.wargs.com.
- ^ McLean, Jim (January 20, 2003). "Call him 'first dude'". The Topeka Capital-Journal. p. A1.
- ^ a b "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-05-15. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "'Other' Sebelius named U.S. magistrate". Associated Press. August 17, 2002.
- ^ "Sebelius nominated for federal judgeship". Associated Press. June 8, 2000.
- ^ "1954 Topeka Desegregation Case Continues Odyssey in the Courts". The New York Times. 4 November 1992.
- ^ Robbins, William (7 October 1986). "Historic Case on Rights is Reopened in Topeka". The New York Times.
- ^ "Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36 Issue 23 (Monday, June 12, 2000)". www.govinfo.gov.
- ^ "Other' Sebelius named U.S. magistrate". Associated Press. August 17, 2002.
- ^ Adamson, Erin (June 12, 2003). "'First dude' sworn in as judge". The Topeka Capital-Journal. p. C1.
- ^ "Keith Gary Sebelius". United States Courts. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ O'Shea, Jennifer (July 29, 2008). "10 Things You Didn't Know About Kathleen Sebelius". USNEWS.com.
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