Elaine Debra Kaplan (born December 18, 1955) is the chief judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims.[1] She served as General Counsel of the United States Office of Personnel Management from 2009 to 2013, and as acting director of the office in 2013.

Elaine Kaplan
Chief Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims
Assumed office
March 2, 2021
Appointed byJoe Biden
Preceded byEleni M. Roumel
Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims
Assumed office
November 6, 2013
Appointed byBarack Obama
Preceded byChristine Odell Cook Miller
Director of the Office of Personnel Management
Acting
In office
April 13, 2013 – November 4, 2013
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byJohn Berry
Succeeded byKatherine Archuleta
Personal details
Born (1955-12-18) December 18, 1955 (age 68)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationBinghamton University (BA)
Georgetown University (JD)

Early life and career

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Kaplan was born in 1955 in Brooklyn, New York.[2] She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1976 from Binghamton University. She received a Juris Doctor, cum laude, in 1979, from the Georgetown University Law Center.

She began her career as a staff attorney in the Solicitor's Office of the United States Department of Labor. From 1984–98, she worked for the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), with increasing levels of responsibility. In 1998, she was unanimously confirmed by the Senate to serve as the head of the United States Office of Special Counsel and served five years in that position.[3]

From 2003 to 2004, she served as of counsel at the law firm of Bernabei and Katz. From 2004–09, she served as Senior Deputy General Counsel at the NTEU. From 2009–13, she was the General Counsel of the United States Office of Personnel Management.[4][5] Kaplan took the office of Acting Director in April 2013, after Director John Berry's four-year term expired.[6]

Claims court service

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On March 19, 2013, President Barack Obama nominated Kaplan to serve as a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims, to the seat vacated by Judge Christine Odell Cook Miller.[4]

The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on her nomination on May 8, 2013, and reported her nomination to the floor by voice vote on June 6, 2013.[7] Her nomination was confirmed on September 17, 2013 by a 64–35 vote.[8] She took the oath of office from Chief Judge Patricia E. Campbell-Smith on November 6, 2013.[9] On March 2, 2021, President Joe Biden designated Kaplan as Chief Judge.[10][1]

Personal life

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Kaplan is open about her lesbian identity.[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Elaine D. Kaplan | US Court of Federal Claims". www.uscfc.uscourts.gov. Archived from the original on 2022-05-14. Retrieved 2022-05-11.
  2. ^ Elaine D. Kaplan at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  3. ^ Lou Chibbaro Jr. (March 20, 2013). "Obama nominates lesbian attorney for judgeship". Washington Blade. Archived from the original on September 23, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "President Obama Nominates Two to Serve on the U.S. Court of Federal Claims". whitehouse.gov. 2013-03-19. Archived from the original on 2018-11-26. Retrieved 2017-04-01 – via National Archives.
  5. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-04-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ^ Chris Huqueriza (September 18, 2013). "Elaine D. Kaplan becomes second openly gay judge elected to Federal Claims Court". FourTwoNine. Archived from the original on October 7, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
  7. ^ "Home | United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary". Judiciary.senate.gov. 2017-03-27. Archived from the original on 2019-11-12. Retrieved 2017-04-01.
  8. ^ "On the Nomination (Confirmation Elaine D. Kaplan, of the District of Columbia, to be a Judge of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims)". 2013-09-17. Retrieved 2017-04-01.
  9. ^ "Elaine D. Kaplan took the oath of office on November 6, 2013, as Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims. | US Court of Federal Claims". Archived from the original on 2013-11-07. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
  10. ^ "President Biden designates Elaine D. Kaplan as Chief Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims". www.uscfc.uscourts.gov. March 2, 2021. Archived from the original on October 9, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  11. ^ "President Obama Nominates Open Lesbian to Serve on U.S. Court of Federal Claims | Human Rights Campaign". Hrc.org. 2013-03-20. Archived from the original on 2015-09-26. Retrieved 2017-04-01.
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Political offices
Preceded by Director of the Office of Personnel Management
Acting

2013
Succeeded by
Legal offices
Preceded by Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims
2013–present
Incumbent
Preceded by Chief Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims
2021–present