John T. Shepherd

John Thomas Shepherd
Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas
Incumbent
Assumed office
April 23, 2026
Appointed byDonald Trump
Preceded bySusan O. Hickey
Personal details
BornJohn Thomas Shepherd
1987 (age 38–39)
El Dorado, Arkansas, U.S.
EducationRice University (BA)
University of Arkansas (JD)

John Thomas Shepherd (born 1987) is an American lawyer who has served as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas since 2026. He previously served as a judge of the Arkansas 13th Judicial State Circuit Court in El Dorado, Arkansas from 2025 to 2026.

Early life and education

Shepherd was born in 1987 in El Dorado, Arkansas.[1] He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 2009 from Rice University and his Juris Doctor, magna cum laude in 2013 from University of Arkansas School of Law.[2] During his time at Rice, he played quarterback for the Rice Owls football team.[1][3]

Career

From 2025 to 2026, Shepherd has served as a judge of the Arkansas 13th Judicial State Circuit Court in El Dorado, Arkansas. He previously served as a prosecuting attorney in the same circuit.[1][2]

Federal judicial service

On January 6, 2026, President Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Shepherd to an unspecified seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas.[2] On January 29, 2026, Trump formally nominated Shepherd to the seat on the Western District of Arkansas being vacated by Judge Susan O. Hickey.[4] On February 4, 2026, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.[5] On March 5, 2026, his nomination was reported from the Judiciary Committee by a 12–10 party-line vote.[6] On April 13, 2026 the Senate invoked cloture by a 50–44 vote.[7] The following day, the Senate confirmed his nomination in a 53–46 vote.[8] He received his judicial commission on April 23, 2026.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Shepherd, John Thomas (February 4, 2026). "Senate Judiciary Committee Questionnaire" (PDF). www.judiciary.senate.gov. United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Truth Social". Truth Social.
  3. ↑ "John Thomas Shepherd - Rice Owls Quarterback". ESPN.
  4. ↑ "PN787-3 - Nomination of John Thomas Shepherd for The Judiciary, 119th Congress (2025-2026)". www.congress.gov. January 29, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Nominations | United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary". www.judiciary.senate.gov. February 4, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Results of Executive Business Meeting" (PDF). U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary. March 5, 2026.
  7. ↑ "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture: John Thomas Shepherd to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Arkansas)". U.S. Senate. April 13, 2026.
  8. ↑ "On the Nomination (Confirmation: John Thomas Shepherd, of Arkansas, to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Arkansas)". U.S. Senate. April 14, 2026.
  9. ↑ John T. Shepherd at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
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