Freethinking Judge Brings Controversial Past

In his four years on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Jay Bybee has become known as one of its brightest and most freethinking judges. Although Bybee sometimes proves a strong ally for his liberal colleagues, he often votes with the court's conservative bloc - and in some notable cases, leads it.

Jay S. Bybee

9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals

Career Highlights: Law clerk, US 4th Circuit, 1980-1; private practice, Washington, DC, 1981-4; U.S. Dept. of Justice, 1984-9; associate counsel to Pres. George H.W. Bush, 1981-91; professor, Herbert Law Center, LSU, 1991-8, professor, Boyd School of Law, U Nevada, 1999-2001, assistant AG, 2001-3; nominated January 2003; confirmed March 2003

Law School: Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark Law School, J.D., 1980

See more...

By Amelia Hansen
Daily Journal Staff Writer

In his four years on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Jay Bybee has become known as one of its brightest and most freethinking judges.

Although Bybee often votes with the court's conservative bloc - and in some notable cases, leads it - he also has proved a strong ally for his liberal colleagues.

Last year, when two of his colleagues said a convicted murderer deserved a second chance to prove h... (continued)