Catherine Blake
2021 - Present
3
Catherine C. Blake is a federal judge on senior status with the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. She joined the court in 1995 after being nominated by President Bill Clinton. Blake served as chief judge of the court from 2014 to 2017.
Blake assumed senior status on April 2, 2021.[1]
Early life and education
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Blake earned a bachelor's degree from Radcliffe College in 1972. Blake earned a J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1975.[2]
Professional career
- 1986-1987: First Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Maryland
- 1985-1986: Chief U.S. District Attorney, District of Maryland
- 1983-1985: First Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Maryland
- 1977-1983: Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Maryland
- 1975-1977: Attorney in private practice, Massachusetts[2]
Judicial career
District of Maryland
Blake was nominated to the United States District Court for the District of Maryland by President Bill Clinton on May 4, 1995, to a seat vacated by John Hargrove. Blake was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 11, 1995, on a Senate vote and received commission on August 14, 1995.[3]
Blake served as chief judge of the court from 2014 to 2017.
Blake assumed senior status on April 2, 2021.[1]
Magistrate, District of Maryland
In 1987, Blake was appointed to an eight-year term as a Federal Magistrate Judge for the District of Maryland.[2]
Noteworthy cases
Antietam Battlefield KOA v. Hogan (2020)
Antietam Battlefield KOA v. Hogan: On November 18, 2020, Judge Catherine Blake, of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, dismissed a lawsuit over Governor Larry Hogan’s (R) COVID-19 restrictions. In their complaint, the plaintiffs (an array of business owners, religious leaders, state politicians, and other residents) alleged violations of the First Amendment’s prohibition against the establishment of religion, as well as its guarantees of free exercise of religion, freedom of assembly, and free speech. The plaintiffs also argued that Hogan’s actions violated their constitutional rights to equal protection and a republican form of government, as well as the interstate commerce clause and protections against uncompensated takings. In her order granting Hogan’s motion to dismiss, Blake said, "[It] is not the role of the judiciary to second-guess policy choices favoring one reasonable method of preventing the spread of disease over another."[4]
Maryland assault rifle ban is constitutional (2014)
United States District Court Judge Catherine Blake ruled that the Maryland assault rifle ban is constitutional, as those guns fall outside of Second Amendment protection because they are dangerous and unusual arms. Further, Judge Blake noted that, at heart, the Second Amendment is about protecting one's self and one's home. Judge Blake reasoned that the ban will have little impact as these types of guns are rarely used for Second Amendment purposes and are not widely owned in any event.
Articles:
Segregation still present in Maryland's higher education (2013)
On October 7, 2013, Judge Blake found that the State of Maryland failed to correct segregation issues in public schools of higher education, thus discouraging non-black students from applying to historically black institutions (HBIs).[5]
In the underlying case, the Coalition for Equity and Excellence in Maryland Higher Education (Coalition), a group composed of students and alumni from Maryland's HBIs, filed suit against the state in 2006. The Coalition's arguments centered around whether state funding and policies put HBIs at a disadvantage in terms of program duplication. Judge Blake found that HBIs "[would] be more empowered to attract a diverse student body" if academic programming were unique, and further found that state officials provided no justification, educational or otherwise, for duplicated college programming:[5]
| “ | The State offered no evidence that it has made any serious effort to address continuing historic duplication. Second, and even more troublingly, the State has failed to prevent additional unnecessary duplication, to the detriment of the HBIs.[6] | ” |
Judge Blake suggested that the parties attend mediation to come to an agreement on the duplication issue, and delayed entering a final judgment.[5]
Maryland's strict gun law goes into effect (2013)
On October 1, 2013, Judge Blake refused a temporary restraining order which would have prevented Maryland's Firearm Safety Act of 2013 from taking effect. The law, proposed and signed by Governor Martin O'Malley, mandated the taking of fingerprints and required buyers to have a handgun qualification license. This process could take up to thirty days, as the Maryland State Police processed applications. It also limited the number of handgun magazines citizens can buy, and added 45 guns to the banned assault weapons list.[7]
The gun owners and advocacy groups seeking the order took issue with the state's unpreparedness to process new licenses, pointing to a backlog of over 53,000 applications.[8] In the ruling, Judge Blake said:
| “ | There's a strong public interest in lessening the risk of tragedies. Potentially the only economic harm could be on behalf of the dealers.[9][6] | ” |
Judge Blake took specific issue with opponents waiting until a few days before the law became effective to challenge it. Opponents planned to seek a temporary injunction for the law.[8]
Alan Fabian case (2011)
- See also: United States District Court for the District of Maryland (United States of America v. Alan Brian Fabian, Civil No. CCB-09-2810 Criminal No. CCB-07-0355)
- See also: United States District Court for the District of Maryland (United States of America v. Alan Brian Fabian, Civil No. CCB-09-2810 Criminal No. CCB-07-0355)
In 2011, Judge Blake ruled that the sentence and charges against Alan Fabian would stand, denying his motion. Two years earlier, Fabian was convicted of mail fraud and filing a fake tax return, crimes to which he confessed. As a result, he was sentenced to nine years in prison and $40 million restitution.
Fabian, an entrepreneur and political fundraiser, challenged the legality of the sentence for thirteen reasons. Because of the plea deal agreed to by Fabian and the exhaustive confirmations of that deal in the first trial, Blake found no reason to re-hear the case.[10]
See also
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Biography of Catherine C. Blake from the Federal Judicial Center
- Biography from the District of Maryland
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Baltimore Sun, "Three post-Trump vacancies will allow Biden to place his stamp on Maryland’s federal trial court," January 29, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Federal Judicial Center, "Biography of Catherine C. Blake"
- ↑ THOMAS, "Presidential Nominations 104th Congress: Catherine C. Blake (USDC, MD)," accessed May 17, 2014
- ↑ United States District Court for the District of Maryland, "Antietam Battlefield KOA v. Hogan: Memorandum," November 18, 2020
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Blog of Legal Times, "Judge Finds Segregation Persists in Maryland Higher Education," October 8, 2013
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Fox News, "Judge refuses to block Maryland's gun law; opponents vow continue fighting," October 2, 2031
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Baltimore Sun, "U.S. judge rejects requests to halt Maryland gun law," October 1, 2013
- ↑ Washington Times, "Federal judge denies motion to halt new Maryland gun laws," October 1, 2013
- ↑ Baltimore Sun, "Fabian seeks to have 2008 sentence overturned," December 28, 2009
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: John Hargrove |
District of Maryland 1995–2021 Seat #9 |
Succeeded by: Lydia Kay Griggsby
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| 1999 |
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Federal courts:
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Maryland • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Maryland
State courts:
Maryland Supreme Court • Appellate Court of Maryland • Maryland District Courts • Maryland Circuit Courts • Maryland Orphans' Court
State resources:
Courts in Maryland • Maryland judicial elections • Judicial selection in Maryland