John E. Sparks

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John E. Sparks
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
Assumed office
April 19, 2016
Appointed byBarack Obama
Preceded byJames E. Baker
Personal details
Born
John Edward Sparks

(1953-08-15) August 15, 1953 (age 68)
Mount Holly, New Jersey
EducationUnited States Naval Academy (BS)
University of Connecticut School of Law (JD)
ProfessionAttorney
Military service
Branch/service United States Navy
 United States Marine Corps
Years of serviceJuly 1972–January 1998

John Edward Sparks (born August 15, 1953) is a United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces and former Commissioner to the Chief Judge of the same court.

Biography[]

Sparks is a native of Mount Holly, New Jersey.[1] and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in July 1971.[1] After completing Naval Academy Preparatory School he received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy and began the course of instruction as a midshipman in July 1972.[1] He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Naval Academy and upon graduation he accepted a commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps.[1] In 1983, he was accepted into the Marine Corps Excess Leave Law Program and began the study of law at the University of Connecticut School of Law, where he later received a Juris Doctor. He was admitted to the Connecticut Bar in 1986 and was certified as a Marine Corps judge advocate.[1] From 1976 to 1986, he served in various positions as an infantry officer in the United States Marine Corps. From 1986 to 1991, he served as a military defense counsel, military prosecutor and Chief Legal Assistance Officer. From 1991 to 1994, he served as a Military Judge at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From 1994 to 1996, he served as Military Assistant to the General Counsel at the United States Department of the Navy. From 1996 to 1998, he was Deputy Legal Advisor for the National Security Council, retiring from the Marine Corps at the end of this service in 1998. He served as Special Assistant to the Secretary of Agriculture, Sparks also was instrumental in the settlement of a class action lawsuit against the department by African American farmers.[1] From 1998 to 1999, and served as Principal Deputy General Counsel of the Navy, from 1999 to 2000. From 2000 to 2016, he served as Commissioner to the Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.[2]

Court of Appeals service[]

On July 30, 2015, President Obama nominated Sparks to serve as a United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, to the seat vacated by Judge James E. Baker, who took senior status on July 31, 2015.[3] This is an Article I Judicial appointment with a term of fifteen years. On December 9, 2015 he received a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee.[4] His nomination was reported out of committee on December 15, 2015.[5] The Senate confirmed his nomination on April 5, 2016, by voice vote. He received his commission on April 19, 2016, and took the judicial oath the same day. By law, his commission will expire on July 31, 2031, at which time his term will end, unless he is reappointed.

Personal[]

Sparks lives in Virginia with his wife, Wendy. They have three grown children.[1]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Biographies of the Judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces: Judge John E. Sparks, Jr" (PDF). September 2016. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  2. ^ "President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts" White House, July 30, 2015
  3. ^ "Presidential Nominations and Withdrawals Sent to the Senate" White House, July 30, 2015
  4. ^ "Nominations - Lettre, Camarillo, Sparks, & Tidd", United States Senate Committee on the Armed Services, December 9, 2015
  5. ^ "EXECUTIVE CALENDAR" - December 16, 2015, United States Senate
Legal offices
Preceded by Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
2016–present 		Incumbent
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