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 "excerpt": "Edward F. Shea (born 1942) is an American jurist serving as a senior United States district judge for the Eastern District of Washington since 2012.",
 "snippet": "Edward F. Shea (born 1942) is an American jurist serving as a senior United States district judge for the Eastern District of Washington since 2012.",
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 "markdown": "# Edward F. Shea\n\nEdward F. Shea (born 1942) is an American jurist serving as a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington since 2012.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390636)</sup> He was appointed to the court by President William J. Clinton in 1998.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390636)</sup> He assumed senior status on June 7, 2012.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390636)</sup>\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Court | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390636)</sup> |\n| Appointed by | William J. Clinton<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390636)</sup> |\n| Confirmed | March 27, 1998, by voice vote<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390636)</sup> |\n| Senior status | June 7, 2012<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390636)</sup> |\n| Born | 1942 in Malden, MA<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390636)</sup> |\n| Education | B.S.Ed., Boston State College (now University of Massachusetts Boston), 1965; J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 1970<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390636)</sup> |\n\n## Early life and education\n\nShea was born in 1942 in Malden, Massachusetts.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390636)</sup> He received a [Bachelor of Science](https://www.edgepedia.org/bachelor-of-science) in [Education](https://www.edgepedia.org/education) from Boston State College, now part of the [University of Massachusetts Boston](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-massachusetts-boston), in 1965.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390636)</sup> He earned his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1970.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390636)</sup>\n\n## Legal career\n\nAfter law school, Shea served as a law clerk to Judge Harold Petrie of the Court of Appeals of the State of Washington, Division II, from 1970 to 1971.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390636)</sup> He then entered private practice in 1971 and remained in practice until his appointment to the federal bench.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390636)</sup> When President Clinton nominated him in 1997, the White House announced that he was a partner at the firm Shea, Kuffel & Klashke.<sup>[2](https://clintonwhitehouse6.archives.gov/1997/09/1997-09-04-shea-and-kimball-nominated-to-federal-bench.html)</sup>\n\n## Federal judicial service\n\nPresident Clinton nominated Shea to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington on September 4, 1997.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390636)</sup> The White House announced the nomination that day, together with the nomination of [Dale A. Kimball](https://www.edgepedia.org/dale-a-kimball) to another federal district court.<sup>[2](https://clintonwhitehouse6.archives.gov/1997/09/1997-09-04-shea-and-kimball-nominated-to-federal-bench.html)</sup> Shea was confirmed by voice vote on March 27, 1998, received his commission on April 8, 1998, and served as a district judge of the Eastern District of Washington.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390636)</sup> He assumed senior status on June 7, 2012.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390636)</sup>\n\n## References\n\n1. [Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges: Edward F. Shea](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390636)\n2. [President Clinton Nominates Two to the Federal Bench](https://clintonwhitehouse6.archives.gov/1997/09/1997-09-04-shea-and-kimball-nominated-to-federal-bench.html)\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 district court judges › Surnames Se to Sy*\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",
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 "credit": "\"Edward F. Shea\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/edward-f-shea. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.",
 "credit_md": "\"[Edward F. Shea](https://www.edgepedia.org/edward-f-shea)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/edward-f-shea](https://www.edgepedia.org/edward-f-shea). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).",
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 "speakable": "Edward F. Shea is an American jurist serving as a senior United States district judge for the Eastern District of Washington since 2012."
}