Nancy Waples

Last updated
Nancy J. Waples
Justice Nancy Jear Waples Waples Portrait.jpg
Justice Nancy Jear Waples
Associate Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court
Assumed office
April 15, 2022

Nancy Jear Waples (born October 7, 1960) [1] is an American lawyer who has served as an associate justice of the Vermont Supreme Court since 2022.

Contents

Early life and education

Waples is the daughter of Chinese immigrants So Kam "Susie" Jear and Yee Roy Jear; [2] she was born in Toronto, Canada [2] and became a U.S. citizen in 1977. [3] She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the College of William & Mary in 1982, and she earned a Juris Doctor from St. John's University School of Law in 1987. [4] [5]

Waples started her legal career serving as a prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney's office, working in the appeals bureau and trial division under well-known District Attorney Robert Morgenthau. [6] She later served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney's office in the District of Vermont, where she served in the criminal division. [4] Prior to her appointment as a judge she worked as a lawyer with the law firm Hoff Curtis where she focused on criminal defense. [3]

Vermont judicial service

Superior court

On December 29, 2014, Governor Peter Shumlin appointed Waples to the Vermont Superior Court to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of judge Geoffrey W. Crawford who was appointed to the Vermont Supreme Court. [3]

Supreme Court

On February 25, 2022, Governor Phil Scott announced the appointment of Waples as an associate justice of the Vermont Supreme Court, filling the seat vacated by the resignation of Justice Beth Robinson on November 5, 2021, after Robinson was appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. [4] Waples is the first woman of color to serve on the Vermont Supreme Court. [1] [7]

The Vermont Senate confirmed Waples' appointment on March 25, 2022. [8] She was sworn into office on April 15, 2022. [9] [10]

Family

Waples is married to attorney Gregory L. Waples. [11] They are the parents of two sons, one of which practices as an attorney in New York City, while the other serves as a law clerk to the Court of International Trade. [11] [12] [13]

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References

  1. 1 2 Keays, Alan J. (February 25, 2022). "Scott appoints Nancy Waples to the Vermont Supreme Court". VTDigger. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Obituary, So Kam Jear August 2, 1932 ~ May 5, 2019". Ballard-Durand Funeral & Cremation Service. White Plains, NY. May 6, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 Donoghue, Mike (December 29, 2014). "Waples named Vermont's newest judge". The Burlington Free Press. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 "Governor Phil Scott Appoints Nancy Waples To The Vermont Supreme Court" (Press release). Office of Governor Phil Scott. February 25, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Nancy J. Waples Profile". www.martindale.com. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  6. ↑ Duffort, Riley Robinson, Sarah Mearhoff, Lola (2022-04-15). "Final Reading: Waples takes the bench". VTDigger. Retrieved 2023-10-31.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ↑ Soga, Aki (February 25, 2022). "Gov. Scott appointment makes Nancy Waples first woman of color on Vermont Supreme Court". The Burlington Free Press. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Senate confirms 1st woman of color to Vermont Supreme Court". Barre Montpelier Times Argus . Barre, VT. Associated Press. March 26, 2022.
  9. ↑ "First woman of color to be sworn in on Vermont's high court". WCAX-TV. South Burlington, VT. April 15, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Judge Nancy Waples to be Sworn in as Vermont's Next Associate Justice" (Press release). Vermont Judiciary. April 11, 2022. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  11. 1 2 Donoghue, Mike (December 30, 2014). "Nancy Waples gets nod as state's newest judge". The Burlington Free Press . Burlington, VT. p. A7 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Judge Claire R. Kelly | Court of International Trade | United States". www.cit.uscourts.gov. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  13. ↑ "Professionals". Fried Frank. 2023-10-31.
Legal offices
Preceded byJudge of the Vermont Superior Court
2014–2022		Succeeded by
Jennifer Barrett
Preceded byAssociate Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court
2022–Present		Incumbent


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