{ "id": "epcy0ygfa1", "slug": "j-d-breen", "title": "J. D. Breen", "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.district-judges", "label": "United States district court judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-bl-to-by", "label": "Surnames Bl to By", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-bl-to-by" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-bl-to-by", "label": "United States · 2021 and later: Surnames Bl to By", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-bl-to-by", "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.district-judges", "label": "United States district court judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-bl-to-by", "label": "Surnames Bl to By", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-bl-to-by" } ] } ], "excerpt": "J. Daniel Breen (born 1950) is an American jurist serving as a senior United States district judge for the Western District of Tennessee since 2017.", "snippet": "J. Daniel Breen (born 1950) is an American jurist serving as a senior United States district judge for the Western District of Tennessee since 2017.", "node": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-bl-to-by", "markdown": "# J. D. Breen\n\nJ. Daniel Breen (born 1950) is an American jurist serving as a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee since 2017.[1](https://www.tnwd.uscourts.gov/content/senior-judge-j-daniel-breen) He was appointed to the court by President George W. Bush in 2003 and served as its chief judge from 2013 to 2017.[1](https://www.tnwd.uscourts.gov/content/senior-judge-j-daniel-breen)\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Court | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391771) |\n| Appointed by | George W. Bush[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391771) |\n| Confirmed | March 13, 2003 (Senate vote 92 to 0)[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391771) • [3](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1080055) |\n| Senior status | March 18, 2017[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391771) |\n| Born | 1950, Jackson, Tennessee[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391771) |\n| Education | B.A., Spring Hill College, 1972; J.D., University of Tennessee College of Law, 1975[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391771) |\n\n## Early life and education\n\nBreen was born in 1950 in [Jackson, Tennessee](https://www.edgepedia.org/jackson-tennessee).[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391771) He received a [Bachelor of Arts](https://www.edgepedia.org/bachelor-of-arts) from [Spring Hill College](https://www.edgepedia.org/spring-hill-college) in 1972, graduating summa cum laude in history as class valedictorian and a member of the Phi Eta Sigma and Alpha Sigma Nu honor societies.[1](https://www.tnwd.uscourts.gov/content/senior-judge-j-daniel-breen) He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1975, where he served as research editor of the Tennessee Law Review.[1](https://www.tnwd.uscourts.gov/content/senior-judge-j-daniel-breen)\n\n## Legal career\n\nBreen was in private practice in Jackson, Tennessee, from 1975 to 1991, at the firm Waldrop and Hall, formerly known as Waldrop, Breen, Bryant, Crews, Taylor and McLeary, P.A.[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391771) • [1](https://www.tnwd.uscourts.gov/content/senior-judge-j-daniel-breen) He then served as a [United States magistrate judge](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-states-magistrate-judge) for the Western District of Tennessee from 1991 to 2003.[1](https://www.tnwd.uscourts.gov/content/senior-judge-j-daniel-breen)\n\n## Federal judicial service\n\nPresident [George W. Bush](https://www.edgepedia.org/george-w-bush) first nominated Breen to the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee on October 10, 2002; no Senate vote was held on that nomination.[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391771) Bush renominated him on January 7, 2003.[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391771) The Senate confirmed the nomination on March 13, 2003, by a vote of 92 to 0.[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391771) • [3](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1080055) He received his commission on March 14, 2003.[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391771) Breen served as chief judge of the Western District of Tennessee from 2013 to 2017 and assumed senior status on March 18, 2017.[2](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391771) • [1](https://www.tnwd.uscourts.gov/content/senior-judge-j-daniel-breen)\n\n## Notable cases\n\nBreen's docket on the Western District of Tennessee has included civil rights and [Social Security](https://www.edgepedia.org/social-security) matters. Cases before him have included *Andrews v. CoreCivic of Tennessee, LLC*, a civil rights action; *Jones v. NSK Steering Systems America, Inc.*, an employment discrimination case; and *Campbell v. Commissioner of Social Security*, a Social Security claim.[4](https://www.law360.com/judges/judge-j-daniel-breen/cases)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Senior Judge J. Daniel Breen, Western District of Tennessee](https://www.tnwd.uscourts.gov/content/senior-judge-j-daniel-breen)\n2. [Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges: J. Daniel Breen](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391771)\n3. [Senate Roll Call Vote, March 13, 2003](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1080055)\n4. [Judge J. Daniel Breen Cases, Law360](https://www.law360.com/judges/judge-j-daniel-breen/cases)\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 Bl to By*\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/j-d-breen", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/j-d-breen.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": "\"J. D. Breen\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/j-d-breen. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[J. D. Breen](https://www.edgepedia.org/j-d-breen)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/j-d-breen](https://www.edgepedia.org/j-d-breen). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"J. D. Breen\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/j-d-breen. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "J. Daniel Breen is an American jurist serving as a senior United States district judge for the Western District of Tennessee since 2017." }