F. Kay Behm | |
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Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan | |
Assumed office December 15, 2022 | |
Appointed by | Joe Biden |
Preceded by | David M. Lawson |
Judge of the Genesee County Circuit and Probate Courts | |
In office April 10,2009 –December 15,2022 | |
Appointed by | Jennifer Granholm |
Preceded by | Robert E. Weiss |
Succeeded by | Ariana E. Heath |
Personal details | |
Born | Frances Kay Courter 1969 (age 55–56) Alma,Michigan,U.S. |
Education | Albion College (BA) University of Michigan (JD) |
Frances Kay Behm (born 1969) is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Behm received a Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude from Albion College in 1991 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School in 1994. [1] [2]
From 1994 to 1997,Behm was an associate at Braun Kendrick Finbeiner in Saginaw,Michigan. From 1997 to 2008,she was an associate at Winegarden,Haley,Lindholm,&Robertson in Flint,Michigan. She was a solo practitioner from 2008 to 2009. [1] She focused on business litigation and probate law while in private practice. [3] Behm chaired the Domestic Relations Committee of the Michigan Probate Judges' Association and has served on the board of directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flint and Genesee County. [4]
From April 10,2009 to December 15,2022, [5] she served as probate judge of the Genesee County Circuit and Probate Courts [1] after being appointed by Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm. [6] [7] She was appointed to fill the vacancy left by the death of Judge Robert E. Weiss. [5] Behm was assigned to the family division of the circuit court from May 2009 until December 2018 and was assigned to the general civil/criminal division and business court until she was appointed to federal court. [8]
In December 2022 she dismissed two misdemeanor charges against former Michigan Governor Rick Schneider for the Flint Water crisis. [9]
On June 29,2022,President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Behm to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. [1] On July 11,2022,her nomination was sent to the Senate. President Biden nominated Behm to the seat vacated by Judge David M. Lawson,who assumed senior status on August 6,2021. [10] On July 27,2022,a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee. [11] On September 15,2022,her nomination was reported out of committee by a 12–10 vote. [12] On December 6,2022,the United States Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a 47–46 vote. [13] Later that day,her nomination was confirmed by a 49–47 vote. [14] She received her judicial commission on December 15,2022, [15] and was sworn in on the same day. [16]
Behm is from Grand Blanc,Michigan. She lives with her husband,Michael Behm,an attorney. [5]