Comprehensive information and links about J. Michael Luttig

J. Michael Luttig (born in Tyler, Texas, June 13, 1954J. Michael Luttig is a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, having been appointed to a newly created seat by President George H. W. Bush on April 23, 1991, and confirmed by the United States Senate on July 26, 1991.

Luttig graduated from Washington and Lee University in 1976 before receiving his Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1981. He briefly worked in the Reagan White House before doing a couple of clerkships, the first one being for then-Judge Antonin Scalia of the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit from 1982-1983, and the second for then-Chief Justice Warren Burger from 1983-1984. Luttig continued to work for Burger as a special assistant to the Chief Justice until 1985, when he went into private practice. In 1989, Luttig returned to government service, holding different positions within the Department of Justice until his appointment to the Court of Appeals in 1991.

His father, John Luttig was fatally shot in 1994 in a carjacking by juvenile offender Napoleon Beazley. Beazley was later executed in a controversial case which reached up to the Supreme Court twice. The first time, the vote was split 3-3, with three justices recusing themsleves. Justice Antonin Scalia recused himself because Luttig had clerked for him, and Justices David Souter and Clarence Thomas recused themselves from the decision because Luttig led the George H. W. Bush Administration's efforts to gain the Senate's confirmation for them. The Court subsequently ruled 6-0 against a petition by Beazley, paving the way for his execution.

Luttig was mentioned frequently as being near the top of George W. Bush's list of potential nominees to the Supreme Court of the United States to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. However, Bush first decided to nominate John G. Roberts (who later was renominated for the Chief Justice position), and then nominated Harriet Miers. When the Miers nomination was withdrawn on October 27, 2005, speculation regarding a Luttig nomination was refueled. However, President Bush instead chose to nominate Samuel Alito.

Over the years, Luttig has had many law clerks, who have nicknamed themselves "Luttigators". Many of these clerks have gone on to clerk for conservative members of the Supreme Court.