F. Kay Behm

F. Kay Behm
Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 15, 2022
Appointed byJoe Biden
Preceded byDavid M. Lawson
Judge of the Genesee County Circuit and Probate Courts
In office
April 10, 2009 – December 15, 2022
Appointed byJennifer Granholm
Preceded byRobert E. Weiss
Succeeded byAriana E. Heath
Personal details
Born
Frances Kay Courter

1969 (age 54–55)
Alma, Michigan, U.S.
EducationAlbion 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.

Education

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]

Career

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]

In 2021, Behm was sued in federal court by pro se plaintiff Ca'ron Lloyd. Lloyd alleged damages against several defendants arising from his arrest and conviction before Behm.[5] The presiding judge dismissed Behm from the suit for judicial immunity, but allowed the suit to proceed against two of the other defendants.[6]

Judicial career

State court service

From April 10, 2009 to December 15, 2022,[7] she served as probate judge of the Genesee County Circuit and Probate Courts[1] after being appointed by Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm.[8][9] She was appointed to fill the vacancy left by the death of Judge Robert E. Weiss.[7] 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.[10]

Federal judicial service

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.[11] On July 27, 2022, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.[12] On September 15, 2022, her nomination was reported out of committee by a 12–10 vote.[13] On December 6, 2022, the United States Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a 47–46 vote.[14] Later that day, her nomination was confirmed by a 49–47 vote.[15] She received her judicial commission on December 15, 2022,[16] and was sworn in on the same day.[17]

Personal life

Behm is from Grand Blanc, Michigan. She lives with her husband, Michael Behm, an attorney.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: "President Biden Names Twentieth Round of Judicial Nominees" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  2. ^ "Hon. F. Kay Behm Profile". www.martindale.com. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  3. ^ Burke, Melissa Nann. "Biden nominates Genesee County Judge Behm for federal bench". The Detroit News.
  4. ^ "Biden nominates Genesee County Judge Behm for federal bench".
  5. ^ "Lloyd v. Driggett, CASE NO. 2:20-cv-13099 | Casetext Search + Citator". casetext.com.
  6. ^ Voruganti, Harsh (July 21, 2022). "Judge F. Kay Behm – Nominee to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan".
  7. ^ a b c Murphy, Shannon; Garza, Ryan (April 15, 2009). "New Probate Judge F. Kay Behm welcomes challenge of the bench". mlive. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  8. ^ Burke, Melissa Nann (June 29, 2022). "Biden nominates Genesee County Judge Behm for federal bench". The Detroit News. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  9. ^ "Granholm Appoints Behm Judge of Genesee County Probate Court". www.michigan.gov. April 10, 2009. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  10. ^ "Judge F. Kay Behm" (PDF). 7th Judicial Circuit Court. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  11. ^ "Nominations and Withdrawals Sent to the Senate" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. July 11, 2022.
  12. ^ "Nominations". Washington, D.C.: United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. July 26, 2022.
  13. ^ "Results of Executive Business Meeting – September 15, 2022" (PDF). United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  14. ^ "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture: Frances Kay Behm to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan)". United States Senate. December 6, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  15. ^ "On the Nomination (Confirmation: Frances Kay Behm, of Michigan, to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan)". United States Senate. December 6, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  16. ^ F. Kay Behm at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  17. ^ "Genesee County Probate Judge F. Kay Behm Sworn In As U.S. District Judge" (PDF). mied.uscourts.gov. December 16, 2022. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
Legal offices
Preceded by Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
2022–present 		Incumbent