{ "id": "ep3r7md6bs", "slug": "dana-m-douglas", "title": "Dana M. Douglas", "updated": "2026-10-15", "topic_path": [ { "id": "society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society" }, { "id": "society.law", "label": "Law and justice", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law" }, { "id": "society.law.practice", "label": "Courts and legal practice", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people", "label": "Legal biographies", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us", "label": "United States judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal", "label": "US federal judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3", "label": "Article III judges (district and appellate)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.appeals-judges", "label": "United States courts of appeals judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.appeals-judges" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.appeals-judges.alpha-d-to-j", "label": "Surnames D to J", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.appeals-judges.alpha-d-to-j" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.appeals-judges.alpha-d-to-j", "label": "United States · 2021 and later: Surnames D to J", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.appeals-judges.alpha-d-to-j", "path": [ { "id": "geo.us", "label": "United States", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021", "label": "United States · 2021 and later", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law", "label": "Law and justice", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice", "label": "Courts and legal practice", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people", "label": "Legal biographies", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us", "label": "United States judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal", "label": "US federal judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.appeals-judges", "label": "United States courts of appeals judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.appeals-judges" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.appeals-judges.alpha-d-to-j", "label": "Surnames D to J", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.appeals-judges.alpha-d-to-j" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Dana M. Douglas, born 1975 in New Orleans, is a United States circuit judge on the Fifth Circuit since 2022 and the first woman of color to serve on that court.", "snippet": "Dana M. Douglas, born 1975 in New Orleans, is a United States circuit judge on the Fifth Circuit since 2022 and the first woman of color to serve on that court.", "node": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.appeals-judges.alpha-d-to-j", "markdown": "# Dana M. Douglas\n\nDana Marie Douglas (born 1975) is an American jurist serving as a United States circuit judge of the [United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-states-court-of-appeals-for-the-fifth-circuit) since 2022.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/12942526) She was appointed by President Joseph R. Biden.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/12942526) She is the first woman of color to serve on the Fifth Circuit.[2](https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/press/dem/releases/senate-confirms-judge-douglas-to-the-fifth-circuit-court-of-appeals)\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Court | U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/12942526) |\n| Appointed by | Joseph R. Biden[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/12942526) |\n| Confirmed | December 13, 2022 (65 to 31)[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/12942526) • [3](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1170916) |\n| Born | 1975 in New Orleans, Louisiana[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/12942526) |\n| Education | B.A., Miami University, Ohio, 1997; J.D., Loyola University New Orleans School of Law, 2000[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/12942526) |\n\n## Early life and education\n\nDouglas was born in 1975 in New Orleans, Louisiana.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/12942526) She earned a [Bachelor of Arts](https://www.edgepedia.org/bachelor-of-arts) from [Miami University](https://www.edgepedia.org/miami-university) in Ohio in 1997 and a [Juris Doctor](https://www.edgepedia.org/juris-doctor) from Loyola University New Orleans School of Law in 2000.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/12942526)\n\n## Legal career\n\nDouglas began her legal career as a law clerk to Judge Ivan L. R. Lemelle of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana from 2000 to 2001.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/12942526) She then entered private practice in New Orleans, Louisiana, from 2001 to 2018, litigating before federal and state courts as well as administrative agencies.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/12942526) • [2](https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/press/dem/releases/senate-confirms-judge-douglas-to-the-fifth-circuit-court-of-appeals) She was a partner at the Liskow & Lewis law firm from 2001 to 2018.[4](https://www.laed.uscourts.gov/news/judge-dana-douglas-confirmed-us-fifth-circuit-court-appeals)\n\nDouglas also served on the New Orleans Civil Service Commission from 2004 to 2013, as a commissioner from 2004 to 2011 and as vice president from 2011 to 2013.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/12942526) From 2019 until her confirmation to the Fifth Circuit, she served as a [United States magistrate judge](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-states-magistrate-judge) for the Eastern District of Louisiana.[4](https://www.laed.uscourts.gov/news/judge-dana-douglas-confirmed-us-fifth-circuit-court-appeals) In that role, she authored 111 Reports and Recommendations, all of which were adopted in whole or in part by the district court.[2](https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/press/dem/releases/senate-confirms-judge-douglas-to-the-fifth-circuit-court-of-appeals)\n\n## Federal judicial service\n\nPresident Joseph R. Biden nominated Douglas to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on June 15, 2022.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/12942526) The Senate confirmed her nomination on December 13, 2022, by a vote of 65 to 31.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/12942526) • [3](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1170916) She received her commission on December 16, 2022.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/12942526) She serves as a judge on the Fifth Circuit.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/12942526)\n\n## Notable cases\n\nIn *Pena v. Starr County, Texas*, Douglas authored the opinion of the Fifth Circuit panel.[5](https://benchlight.org/judges/dana-marie-douglas)\n\nIn *Students Engaged in Advancing Texas v. Ken Paxton*, opinions attributed to Douglas were issued by the court.[5](https://benchlight.org/judges/dana-marie-douglas)\n\nDouglas has also sat on Fifth Circuit panels in *Harward v. City of Austin*, *Sterling v. City of Jackson*, *United States v. Luna*, *United States v. Enclade*, *United States v. Augillard*, *Doe v. Planned Parenthood*, and *United States v. Brann*.[5](https://benchlight.org/judges/dana-marie-douglas)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges](https://www.fjc.gov/node/12942526)\n2. [Senate Confirms Judge Douglas to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals](https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/press/dem/releases/senate-confirms-judge-douglas-to-the-fifth-circuit-court-of-appeals)\n3. [Roll call RS1170916 (VoteView)](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1170916)\n4. [Judge Dana Douglas Confirmed to the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals](https://www.laed.uscourts.gov/news/judge-dana-douglas-confirmed-us-fifth-circuit-court-appeals)\n5. [Dana Marie Douglas](https://benchlight.org/judges/dana-marie-douglas)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Law and justice › Courts and legal practice › Legal biographies › United States judges › US federal judges › Article III judges (district and appellate) › United States courts of appeals judges › Surnames D to J*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/dana-m-douglas", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/dana-m-douglas.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Dana M. Douglas\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/dana-m-douglas. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Dana M. Douglas](https://www.edgepedia.org/dana-m-douglas)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/dana-m-douglas](https://www.edgepedia.org/dana-m-douglas). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Dana M. Douglas\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/dana-m-douglas. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Dana M." }