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 "excerpt": "James K. Bredar is an American jurist serving as a senior United States district judge for the District of Maryland, appointed by President Barack Obama in 2010.",
 "snippet": "James K. Bredar is an American jurist serving as a senior United States district judge for the District of Maryland, appointed by President Barack Obama in 2010.",
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 "markdown": "# James K. Bredar\n\nJames Kelleher Bredar (born 1957) is an American jurist serving as a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland since 2024.<sup>[1](https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/39fed/02usd/senior/html/msa13720.html)</sup> He was appointed to the court by President Barack Obama, taking the bench in 2010.<sup>[2](https://www.mdd.uscourts.gov/james-k-bredar-district-judge)</sup> He served as chief judge of the court from 2017 to 2024 before assuming senior status (semi-retired judgeship with reduced caseload).<sup>[2](https://www.mdd.uscourts.gov/james-k-bredar-district-judge)</sup>\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Court | U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland<sup>[3](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393511)</sup> |\n| Appointed by | Barack Obama<sup>[3](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393511)</sup> |\n| Confirmed | December 16, 2010, by voice vote<sup>[3](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393511)</sup> |\n| Senior status | April 30, 2024<sup>[3](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393511)</sup> |\n| Born | 1957, Omaha, Nebraska<sup>[3](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393511)</sup> |\n| Education | B.A., Harvard University, 1979; J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 1982<sup>[3](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393511)</sup> |\n\n## Early life and education\n\nBredar was born in [Omaha, Nebraska](https://www.edgepedia.org/omaha-nebraska) in 1957 and was raised in Colorado.<sup>[2](https://www.mdd.uscourts.gov/james-k-bredar-district-judge)</sup> He graduated from Harvard University in 1979 and from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1982, and was a visiting student at the [Yale Law School](https://www.edgepedia.org/yale-law-school) in 1981-82.<sup>[2](https://www.mdd.uscourts.gov/james-k-bredar-district-judge)</sup> Before becoming a lawyer, he served as a National Park Ranger.<sup>[2](https://www.mdd.uscourts.gov/james-k-bredar-district-judge)</sup>\n\n## Legal career\n\nFollowing law school, Bredar clerked for U.S. District Judge Richard P. Matsch of the District of Colorado from 1983 to 1984.<sup>[3](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393511)</sup> He then worked as a prosecutor, serving as a deputy district attorney in the Fourteenth Judicial District of Colorado from 1984 to 1985 and as an assistant United States attorney for the District of Colorado from 1985 to 1989.<sup>[3](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393511)</sup> He later served as an assistant federal public defender in the District of Colorado from 1989 to 1991 and again in 1992.<sup>[3](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393511)</sup>\n\nIn 1991 and 1992, Bredar was a project director with the [Vera Institute of Justice](https://www.edgepedia.org/vera-institute-of-justice), leading its office in London, England.<sup>[2](https://www.mdd.uscourts.gov/james-k-bredar-district-judge)</sup> In 1992, he was appointed Federal Public Defender for the District of Maryland, a position he held until 1998.<sup>[2](https://www.mdd.uscourts.gov/james-k-bredar-district-judge)</sup>\n\n## Federal judicial service\n\nOn January 26, 1998, Bredar became a [United States magistrate judge](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-states-magistrate-judge) for the District of Maryland, serving until December 17, 2010.<sup>[1](https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/39fed/02usd/senior/html/msa13720.html)</sup> President Barack Obama nominated him to the United States District Court for the District of Maryland on April 21, 2010.<sup>[3](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393511)</sup> The Senate confirmed him by voice vote on December 16, 2010, and he received his commission on December 17, 2010.<sup>[3](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393511)</sup>\n\nBredar served as chief district judge of the District of Maryland from October 6, 2017, through April 30, 2024, when he assumed senior status.<sup>[2](https://www.mdd.uscourts.gov/james-k-bredar-district-judge)</sup> He serves as a member of the United States Judicial Conference Committee on the Budget, and previously served for seven years on the Judicial Conference Committee on Federal-State Jurisdiction.<sup>[2](https://www.mdd.uscourts.gov/james-k-bredar-district-judge)</sup>\n\n## References\n\n1. [James K. Bredar, U.S. District Court Judge (Maryland)](https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/39fed/02usd/senior/html/msa13720.html)\n2. [James K. Bredar, District Judge | District of Maryland](https://www.mdd.uscourts.gov/james-k-bredar-district-judge)\n3. [https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393511](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393511)\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",
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 "credit": "\"James K. Bredar\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/james-k-bredar. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.",
 "credit_md": "\"[James K. Bredar](https://www.edgepedia.org/james-k-bredar)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/james-k-bredar](https://www.edgepedia.org/james-k-bredar). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).",
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 "speakable": "James K. Bredar is an American jurist serving as a senior United States district judge for the District of Maryland, appointed by President Barack Obama in 2010."
}