Mary Jeannette Schoelen is a senior judge of the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

Mary Jeannette Schoenlen
Judge Schoelen in 2018
Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
Assumed office
December 20, 2019
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
In office
December 20, 2004[1] – December 20, 2019
Appointed byGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byJohn J. Farley III
Succeeded byScott J. Laurer
Personal details
Born
Mary Jeannette Schoelen

Rota, Spain
SpouseBradley Smith[2]
Alma materUniversity of California, Irvine
George Washington University Law School
Websitewww.uscourts.cavc.gov/schoelen.php

Early life and education

edit

Schoelen was born in Rota, Spain, where her father, a career naval officer,[2] was stationed. She received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California at Irvine in 1990 and Juris Doctor from the George Washington University Law School in 1993. During law school, she worked as a law clerk for the National Veterans Legal Services Project, representing appellants at the Board of Veterans' Appeals.[3]

edit
 
United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims in 2013

In 1994, Schoelen interned with the United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, working on various issues pertaining to adjudication of veterans benefits claims. In November 1994, she began working as a staff attorney for Vietnam Veterans of America's Veterans Benefits Program.[4][5][6]

Schoelen rejoined the United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs staff in March 1997, where she was responsible for development and implementation of policy pertaining to veterans benefits, as well as oversight of the implementation of the policy. She served as Minority Counsel from March 1997 to March 2001, as Minority General Counsel from March 2001 to June 2001, as Deputy Staff Director for Benefits Programs and General Counsel from June 2001 to January 2003, and Deputy Staff Director for Benefits Programs and General Counsel from January 2003 to December 2004 under Chairman and Ranking Member Jay Rockefeller and Ranking Member Bob Graham.[7]

Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims

edit

On December 20, 2004, Schoelen was sworn into office for a 15 year term on the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. She was nominated by President George W. Bush.[1][8]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "ROCKEFELLER SWEARS IN MARY SCHOELEN AS FIRST FEMALE JUDGE ON U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS". Archived from the original on November 12, 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "PN1430 — Mary J. Schoelen — The Judiciary". 108th Congress. November 21, 2004.
  3. ^ Official Congressional Directory 115th Congress, 2017-2018. Government Printing Office. September 6, 2018. p. 898. ISBN 9780160942099.
  4. ^ "Mary Schoelen". Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  5. ^ "Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Delivers Keynote Address". George Washington University Law School. George Washington University. Fall 2005. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. ^ "Presidential Nomination: Mary Jeannette Schoelen". Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  7. ^ "Mary J. Schoelen, Congressional Staffer - Salary Data". Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  8. ^ Colleen Walsh (November 5, 2013). "A case for veterans". Harvard Gazette. Harvard University. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
edit