Editing Roger Vinson

The Honorable '''Clyde Roger Vinson''' (b. [[1940]]) is a senior federal judge in [[United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida|Florida's northern district]].

Born on [[February 19]], [[1940]] in Cadiz, Kentucky, Vinson attended the United States Naval Academy and graduated in 1962 with a bachelor's degree in engineering. He served in Pensacola as a Naval aviator from 1962-1968, attaining the rank of lieutenant. After his service, he attended Vanderbilt University and received his J.D. in 1971.

Returning to Pensacola, Vinson joined the firm of [[Beggs & Lane]], where he practiced general civil law from 1971-1983. He was nominated to the federal bench by President [[Wikipedia:Ronald Reagan|Ronald Reagan]] on [[September 9]], [[1983]] to a seat vacated by [[Lynn C. Higby]], was confirmed by the Senate on [[October 4]], and received his commission a day later. Among the notable cases he has presided over:
*[[1985]] &ndash; Four defendants of [[Christmas abortion bombings|Christmas 1984 abortion bombings]]<ref>"2 of 4 Are Guilty of Clinic Bombing." ''New York Times'', April 25, 1985.</ref>
*[[1988]] &ndash; [[Escambia County]] ordinance banning ''[[Wikipedia:The Last Temptation of Christ (film)|The Last Temptation of Christ]]''<ref>"Judge Overturns Ban on Film." ''New York Times'', September 11, 1988.</ref>
*[[1993]] &ndash; [[Wikipedia:Shoney's|Shoney's]] $134 million race discrimination settlement<ref>"Shoney's Bias Suit Settled." ''New York Times'', January 28, 1993.</ref>
*[[1994]] &ndash; [[Paul Hill]] (federal Clinic Access Law charges)<ref>"Abortion Protester Is Guilty Under Clinic Access Law." ''New York Times'', October 6, 1994.</ref>
Vinson was chief judge from 1997 to 2004. He assumed [[Wikipedia:senior status|senior status]] on March 31, 2005.

He was appointed to serve a seven-year term on the [[Wikipedia:Federal Intelligence Surveillance Court|Federal Intelligence Surveillance Court]], effective [[May 4]], [[2006]].<ref>[http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2006/05/new_fisa_court_judge_appointed.html New FISA Court Judge Appointed]</ref>

Judge Vinson lives in [[East Hill]] with his wife [[Ellen Vinson|Ellen]]. He has five children, including two from a previous marriage and two stepchildren. He is a past president of the [[Pensacola Camellia Club]] and president of the American Camellia Society.

==References==
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*[http://www.fjc.gov/servlet/tGetInfo?jid=2462 FJC.gov profile]
*[http://faculty.rwu.edu/dzlotnick/profiles/vinson.html Profile on Sentencing Policy]
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[[Category:Federal judges|Vinson, Roger]]