U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters on Thursday applauded the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee for advancing the nominations of Judge Shalina Kumar and Judge Jane Beckering by a bipartisan vote. Kumar was nominated to be U.S. District Court judge for the Eastern District of Michigan, and Beckering was nominated to be U.S. District Court judge for the Western District of Michigan. Their nominations now head to the full Senate for confirmation. If Kumar is confirmed, she would be the first federal judge of South Asian descent in Michigan.
On October 6, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing considering their nominations.
“Judge Kumar and Judge Beckering are two outstanding and highly qualified women. Judge Kumar is a respected chief judge of the Oakland County Sixth Circuit Court, and I know she will continue her excellent work as a federal judge. Judge Beckering is a highly qualified judge on the Michigan Court of Appeals and has extensive experience serving in Michigan. I am confident they are ready and prepared to serve the people of Michigan on the federal bench,” said Stabenow.
“I am pleased to see the nominations of Judge Beckering and Judge Kumar advance through the Senate Judiciary Committee today and bring them one step closer to serving on the federal bench,” said Peters. “It was an honor to introduce and recommend these accomplished jurists to the committee earlier this month alongside Senator Stabenow. Judge Kumar would break barriers as the first Michigander of South Asian descent to serve on the bench in our state, and Judge Beckering commands extensive legal experience – and I’m confident both their qualifications will serve the people of Michigan and our nation well. I urge my colleagues to support their nominations as they come before the full Senate.”
On June 30, President Biden nominated Kumar and Beckering to serve as U.S. District Court judges for the Eastern District and Western District of Michigan, respectively.
Kumar has served on the Oakland County Sixth Circuit Court since 2007. She was appointed chief judge of the Circuit Court by the Michigan Supreme Court in January of 2018. In addition to her chief judge duties, Kumar retains a full caseload covering both civil and criminal matters.
Throughout her years on the bench, Kumar has served as a presiding judge of the Adult Treatment Court, the Chairperson of the Oakland County Criminal Assignment Committee, the bench liaison to the Oakland County Bar Association Circuit Court Committee, a member of the Michigan State Bar Professionalism Committee, and a member of the Executive Committee of the Michigan Judges’ Association.
Prior to taking the bench, Kumar was a civil litigator in private practice from 1997 to 2007, including as an associate with Weiner & Cox PLC from 2004 to 2007 and Sommers, Schwartz, Silver, & Schwartz PC from 2000 to 2004. Kumar graduated from the University of Michigan in 1993 and the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law in 1996.
Beckering has served on the Michigan Court of Appeals since 2007 where she oversees both civil and criminal proceedings. Beckering is the chief judge pro tempore of the court. She is also president-elect of the Grand Rapids Bar Association and previously served on the Michigan Supreme Court Committee on Model Civil Jury Instructions.
Prior to becoming a judge, Beckering was a trial lawyer in private practice for 17 years. She founded the law firm of Buchanan & Beckering PLC in Grand Rapids, primarily focused on representing plaintiffs in civil litigation. She began her law career as an associate with McDermott, Will, & Emery PC in Chicago. Beckering received her law degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1990 and her B.A. from the University of Michigan in 1987.
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