Ralph Guy

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Ralph Guy
Image of Ralph Guy
United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit (senior status)
Tenure

1994 - Present

Years in position

30

Prior offices
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit

Education

Bachelor's

University of Michigan, 1951

Law

University of Michigan Law School, 1953

Personal
Birthplace
Detroit, Mich.


Ralph B. Guy, Jr. is a federal judge on senior status with the United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. He first joined the court in 1985 after a nomination from President Ronald Reagan. Prior to his elevation to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, Guy was a judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.[1]

Early life and education

A native of Detroit, Michigan, Guy received his A.B. degree from University of Michigan in 1951 and his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 1953.[1]

Professional career

  • 1994-present: Senior judge
  • 1985-1994: Judge
  • 2001-2005: Presiding judge

Judicial career

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

Nomination Tracker
Fedbadgesmall.png
Nominee Information
Name: Ralph B. Guy, Jr.
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit
Progress
Confirmed 85 days after nomination.
ApprovedANominated: July 23, 1985
DefeatedAABA Rating:
Questionnaire:
ApprovedAHearing: September 11, 1985
QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
ApprovedAReported: September 12, 1985 
ApprovedAConfirmed: October 16, 1985
ApprovedAVote: Voice vote

Guy was nominated to the Sixth Circuit by President Ronald Reagan on July 23, 1985, to a new seat created by 98 Stat. 333. Hearings on Guy's nomination were held before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary on September 11, 1985, and his nomination was reported by U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.) the next day. Guy was confirmed on a voice vote of the U.S. Senate on October 16, 1985, and he received his commission the next day. Guy assumed senior status on September 1, 1994.[1][2] He was succeeded in this position by Judge Eric Clay.

Eastern District of Michigan

Guy was nominated to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan by President Gerald Ford on April 26, 1976, to a seat vacated by Judge Frederick Kaess. Guy was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 11, 1976, and he received his commission the next day. He served on the Eastern District until he was elevated to the Sixth Circuit on October 17, 1985.[1] Guy was succeeded in this position by Judge Lawrence Zatkoff.

Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court

Guy served a seven-year term on the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court from 1998 to 2005. He was presiding judge of the court from 2001 to 2005.[1]

Noteworthy cases

Sixth Circuit finds appointments of agency ALJs invalid (2018)

A three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit held on July 31, 2018, that the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission’s (FMSHRC) roster of administrative law judges (ALJs) were invalidly appointed. The panel ruled that the FMSHRC’s commissioners, rather than its chief ALJ, must appoint the agency's ALJs pursuant to the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution. The panel consisted of judges Jeffrey Sutton, Deborah Cook, and Ralph Guy.[3][4]

The panel issued the decision in Jones Brothers Inc., Petitioner, v. Secretary of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration; Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, a case on appeal from the FMSHRC concerning a fine issued to Jones Brothers by the Mine Safety and Health Administration for certain safety violations. The panel vacated the FMSHRC’s decision and remanded the case to the agency for new proceedings before a validly appointed ALJ.[3]

The panel opinion cited the United States Supreme Court's decision in Lucia v. SEC, which held that the ALJs of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are inferior officers of the United States who must be appointed by the SEC commissioners, rather than hired by agency staff, in accordance with the Appointments Clause.[3]

See also

External links


Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by:
Frederick Kaess
Eastern District of Michigan
1976–1985
Seat #2
Succeeded by:
Lawrence Zatkoff
Preceded by:
NA - New Seat
98 Stat. 333
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
1985–1994
Succeeded by:
Eric Clay