Thomas B. Russell, October 19, 2017
Description
Thomas Banister Russell is a Senior District Judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.
In this interview, Judge Russell discusses his career as a civil litigator from 1970 to 1994, his nomination to the federal bench, and his judicial career since 1994. Topics include notable cases, the legal culture in western Kentucky, sentencing, his approach to managing cases and his courtroom, and his experience as a judge on the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. He also reminisces about Judge John G. Heyburn II, as both a friend and colleague.
Born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1945, Judge Russell grew up in Glasgow, Kentucky and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1967 from Western Kentucky University. He received his Juris Doctor in 1970 from the University of Kentucky College of Law. Thereafter, Russell developed a private practice in Paducah from 1970 to 1994.
On September 14, 1994, Russell was nominated by President Bill Clinton to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky vacated by Edward Huggins Johnstone. Russell was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 7, 1994, and received his commission on October 11, 1994. He took senior status on November 15, 2011. In 2015, he became one of 13 federal judges appointed to the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. In 2016, Russell was appointed to the Alien Terrorist Removal Court.
In this interview, Judge Russell discusses his career as a civil litigator from 1970 to 1994, his nomination to the federal bench, and his judicial career since 1994. Topics include notable cases, the legal culture in western Kentucky, sentencing, his approach to managing cases and his courtroom, and his experience as a judge on the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. He also reminisces about Judge John G. Heyburn II, as both a friend and colleague.
Born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1945, Judge Russell grew up in Glasgow, Kentucky and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1967 from Western Kentucky University. He received his Juris Doctor in 1970 from the University of Kentucky College of Law. Thereafter, Russell developed a private practice in Paducah from 1970 to 1994.
On September 14, 1994, Russell was nominated by President Bill Clinton to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky vacated by Edward Huggins Johnstone. Russell was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 7, 1994, and received his commission on October 11, 1994. He took senior status on November 15, 2011. In 2015, he became one of 13 federal judges appointed to the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. In 2016, Russell was appointed to the Alien Terrorist Removal Court.
Date
2017-10-19
Interviewer
Anu Kasarabada
Interviewee
Thomas Russell
Interview Keyword
Gender equality
Fogel, Jeremy, 1949-
Federal Judicial Center
Courtroom proceedings
Summary judgments
Mandatory sentences
Conwood v. U.S. Tobacco Co.
Conwood Co. v. U.S. Tobacco Sales
United States of America v. Waad Ramadan Alwan
United States of America v. Steven D. Green
Bank robberies
Johnstone, Edward H., 1922-2013
Rights
Property rights reside with the University of Kentucky. For information about permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the University of Kentucky Libraries, Special Collections Research Center.
Citation
Thomas B. Russell, October 19, 2017, John G. Heyburn II Initiative for Excellence in the Federal Judiciary Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
