{ "id": "eptgnn8ren", "slug": "pamela-a-harris", "title": "Pamela A. 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Harris, born 1962, is an American jurist serving as a United States circuit judge of the Fourth Circuit since 2014, appointed by President Barack Obama.", "snippet": "Pamela A. Harris, born 1962, is an American jurist serving as a United States circuit judge of the Fourth Circuit since 2014, appointed by President Barack Obama.", "node": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.appeals-judges.alpha-d-to-j", "markdown": "# Pamela A. Harris\n\nPamela Ann Harris (born 1962) is an American jurist serving as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit since 2014.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394626) She was appointed by President Barack Obama.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394626) Harris was confirmed by a Senate vote of 50 to 43 on July 28, 2014, and received her commission on July 29, 2014.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394626)\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Court | U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394626) |\n| Appointed by | Barack Obama[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394626) |\n| Confirmed | July 28, 2014 (Senate vote: 50 to 43)[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394626) |\n| Born | 1962 in Hartford, Connecticut[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394626) |\n| Education | B.A., Yale College, 1985; J.D., Yale Law School, 1990[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394626) |\n\n## Early life and education\n\nHarris was born in 1962 in [Hartford, Connecticut](https://www.edgepedia.org/hartford-connecticut).[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394626) After graduating from Walt Whitman High School in Maryland, she received her B.A. summa cum laude from Yale College in 1985 and her J.D. from [Yale Law School](https://www.edgepedia.org/yale-law-school) in 1990.[2](https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/05/08/president-obama-nominates-pamela-harris-serve-united-states-court-appeal)\n\n## Legal career\n\nAfter graduating from law school, Harris clerked for Judge Harry T. Edwards of the [United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-states-court-of-appeals-for-the-district-of-columbia-circuit) from 1990 to 1991.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394626) She then worked in private practice in Washington, D.C. from 1991 to 1992, serving as an associate at Shea & Gardner (now Goodwin Procter LLP).[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394626) • [2](https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/05/08/president-obama-nominates-pamela-harris-serve-united-states-court-appeal) Harris clerked for Justice John Paul Stevens of the [Supreme Court of the United States](https://www.edgepedia.org/supreme-court-of-the-united-states) from 1992 to 1993.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394626)\n\nFrom 1993 to 1996, Harris served as an attorney-advisor in the [United States Department of Justice](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-states-department-of-justice)'s Office of Legal Counsel.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394626) She was an associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School from 1996 to 1999, where she was awarded the Harvey Levin Memorial Teaching Award.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394626) • [2](https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/05/08/president-obama-nominates-pamela-harris-serve-united-states-court-appeal)\n\nHarris returned to private practice in Washington, D.C. from 1999 to 2009.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394626) She joined O'Melveny & Myers LLP as counsel in 1999, where she specialized in appellate and Supreme Court litigation, and became a partner in 2005.[2](https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/05/08/president-obama-nominates-pamela-harris-serve-united-states-court-appeal) Beginning in 2007, while still in private practice, Harris co-directed [Harvard Law School](https://www.edgepedia.org/harvard-law-school)'s Supreme Court and Appellate Practice Clinic and was a visiting professor at Georgetown University Law Center.[2](https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/05/08/president-obama-nominates-pamela-harris-serve-united-states-court-appeal) In 2009, she was named the executive director of the Supreme Court Institute at Georgetown, serving until 2010.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394626)\n\nHarris served as principal deputy assistant attorney general in the Office of Legal Policy at the United States Department of Justice from 2010 to 2012.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394626) She returned to Georgetown University Law Center in 2012 as a visiting professor.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394626)\n\n## Federal judicial service\n\nOn May 8, 2014, President Barack Obama nominated Harris to serve as a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394626) The White House announcement described Harris as having unwavering integrity and an outstanding commitment to public service throughout her career.[2](https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/05/08/president-obama-nominates-pamela-harris-serve-united-states-court-appeal) The Senate confirmed her nomination on July 28, 2014, by a vote of 50 to 43.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394626) • [3](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1130533) She received her commission on July 29, 2014.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394626)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Federal Judicial Center, Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges: Pamela Ann Harris](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394626)\n2. [President Obama Nominates Pamela Harris to Serve on the United States Court of Appeals](https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/05/08/president-obama-nominates-pamela-harris-serve-united-states-court-appeal)\n3. [Senate Roll Call Vote, July 28, 2014](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1130533)\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/pamela-a-harris", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/pamela-a-harris.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": "\"Pamela A. Harris\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/pamela-a-harris. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Pamela A. Harris](https://www.edgepedia.org/pamela-a-harris)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/pamela-a-harris](https://www.edgepedia.org/pamela-a-harris). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Pamela A. Harris\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/pamela-a-harris. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Pamela A. Harris, born 1962, is an American jurist serving as a United States circuit judge of the Fourth Circuit since 2014, appointed by President Barack Obama." }