Danny Clyde Reeves (born 1957) is a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.
Early life and education Born in Corbin, Kentucky, Reeves received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Eastern Kentucky University in 1978 and a Juris Doctor from Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University in 1981. During his undergraduate and law school years, Reeves had summer jobs at a coal mine and General Motors assembly factory.
He was a law clerk to Judge Eugene E. Siler, Jr. of the United States District Court for the Eastern & Western Districts of Kentucky from 1981 to 1983. He was in private practice with the Lexington, Kentucky law firm Greenebaum Doll & McDonald from 1983 to 2001, starting as an associate before being promoted to partner in 1988.
Federal judicial service On September 4, 2001, Reeves was nominated by President George W. Bush to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky. He was nominated to a new seat created by 114 Stat. 2762.(Archived) "President Bush to Nominate One Individual to Serve in his Administration, Sixteen Individuals to Serve as Members of the Federal Judiciary, and Twelve Individuals to Serve as United States Attorneys", White House, August 2, 2001 He was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 6, 2001, and received his commission on December 10, 2001. He became chief judge on August 16, 2019."Judicial Milestones: Danny C. Reeves", uscourts.gov He assumed senior status on February 1, 2025.
United States Sentencing Commission On March 15, 2016, President Barack Obama nominated Reeves for a position on the United States Sentencing Commission, which would expire on October 31, 2021."President Obama Nominates Judge Danny C. Reeves to Serve on the United States Sentencing Commission", White House, March 15, 2016"Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate", White House, March 15, 2016 On July 13, 2016, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary: Nominations for July 13, 2016 His nomination expired with the end of the 114th Congress on January 3, 2017. He was renominated by President Obama on January 17, 2017. His nomination was withdrawn by President Donald Trump on February 28, 2017, but Trump renominated him on March 1, 2017. On March 9, 2017, his nomination was reported out of committee. On March 21, 2017, his nomination was confirmed by a 98–0 vote. His term ended in March 2021.
Title IX case In January 2025, Reeves blocked the Biden administration's Title IX rule, which would have amended the federal government's definition of sex to include gender identity. Judge Reeves found the rule to be "arbitrary and capricious" and concluded that it “conflict[ed] with the plain language of Title IX.”
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