Fernando J. Gaitan Jr.

Fernando Joe Gaitan Jr. (born August 22, 1948) is a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri.

Fernando Joe Gaitan Jr.
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2014
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri
In office 2007–2014
Preceded by	Dean Whipple
Succeeded by	David Gregory Kays
Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri
In office August 2, 1991 – January 3, 2014
Appointed by	George H. W. Bush
Preceded by	Russell Gentry Clark
Succeeded by	Stephen R. Bough
Personal details
Born	Fernando Joe Gaitan Jr. (1948-08-22) August 22, 1948 (age 76) Kansas City, Kansas, U.S.
Education	Pittsburg State University (BS) University of Missouri-Kansas City (JD)

Early life and education

Born in Kansas City, Kansas, Gaitan graduated from Sumner High School in Kansas City, Kansas in 1966. Gaitan attended Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas from 1967 to 1968 and received a Bachelor of Science from Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas in 1970 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law in 1974.^[1]

Career

Gaitan was an attorney for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company from 1974 to 1980. He was a judge on the Jackson County Circuit Court from 1980 to 1986, and then on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, until 1991.^[1]

Federal judicial service

On May 16, 1991, Gaitan was nominated by President George H. W. Bush to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri vacated by Russell Gentry Clark. Gaitan was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 18, 1991, and received his commission on August 2, 1991. He served as Chief Judge from 2007 to 2014. He took senior status on January 3, 2014.^[1]

See also

• List of African-American federal judges
• List of African-American jurists