Gilbert Stroud Merritt, Jr.
(1936- )

 
Date and Place of Birth
  • January 17, 1936, Nashville, Tennessee
Education
  • Yale University, B. A., 1957
  • Vanderbilt University, LL.B., 1960
    • President, Student Bar Association
    • Order of the Coif
    • Managing Editor, Vanderbilt Law Review, 1959-1960
  • Harvard University, LL. M., 1962
Private Practice
  • Boult, Hunt, Cummins & Connors, Nashville, Tenn., 1962-1963
  • Gullett, Steele, Sanford, Robinson & Merritt, Nashville, Tenn., 1970-1977
Judicial Experience
  • Judge, U. S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 1977-2001
  • Chief Judge, U. S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 1989-1996
  • Senior Judge, U. S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 2001-present
Judicial Committees & Activities
  • Judicial Conference of the United States, Executive Committee, 1984-1996
    • Chair, Ad Hoc Committee on International Judicial Relations, 1993-1994
    • Chair, Executive Committee of Judicial Conference of the United States, 1994-1996
  • Sixth Circuit Judicial Council, Executive Committee Member, 1977-2001
  • Commission on Structural Alternatives for the Federal Courts of Appeals, 1997-1998
Government Service
  • Associate Metropolitan Attorney, Nashville, Tennessee, 1963-1966
  • United States Attorney, Middle District of Tennessee, 1966-1969
  • Executive Secretary, Tennessee Code Commission, 1977
Academic Positions
  • Assistant Dean & Instructor, Vanderbilt Law School, 1960-1961
  • Associate Professor, Vanderbilt Law School, 1969-1970
  • Lecturer, Vanderbilt Law School, 1962-1969, 1971-1977
  • Adjunct Professor, Vanderbilt Law School, 2001-present
Professional Associations
  • Nashville Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • Federal Bar Association
  • Tennessee Bar Association
  • American Law Institute
Civic & Other Activities
  • Vanderbilt Law Alumni Association
    • President, 1979-1980
  • Vanderbilt University Institute of Public Policy Studies
    • Chair, Board of Trustees, 1983-2000
  • Trustee, Fisk University, 1972-1977
  • Board of Directors, Nashville Symphony, 1965-1969
  • General Counsel and Treasurer, Tennessee Democratic Executive Committee, 1973-1975
  • Delegate, Tennessee Constitutional Convention, 1965
Honors and Awards
  • American Inns of Court Professionalism Award for the Sixth Circuit, 2003
  • Honorary degrees from various colleges and universities