Tamara Wenda Ashford (born December 19, 1968) is a judge of the United States Tax Court and formerly the deputy assistant attorney general for appellate and review in the Tax Division at the United States Department of Justice.

Tamara Ashford
Judge of the United States Tax Court
Assumed office
December 19, 2014
Appointed byBarack Obama
Preceded byMary Cohen
Acting United States Assistant Attorney General for the Tax Division
In office
June 6, 2014 – December 19, 2014
PresidentBarack Obama
Attorney GeneralEric Holder
Preceded byKathryn M. Keneally
Succeeded byDavid A. Hubbert (acting)
Personal details
Born
Tamara Wenda Ashford

(1968-12-19) December 19, 1968 (age 55)[1]
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.[2]
Alma materDuke University (AB)
Vanderbilt University (JD)
University of Miami (LLM)

Biography

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Ashford received an Bachelor of Arts from Duke University, a Juris Doctor from Vanderbilt University Law School and a Master of Laws from University of Miami School of Law.[3] She began her legal career as a law clerk to Judge John C. Martin of the North Carolina Court of Appeals. From 1997 to 2001, she served as an attorney with the Appellate Section of the Tax Division at the United States Department of Justice. From 2001 to 2004, she served as a senior associate at the law firm of Miller & Chevalier in Washington, D.C. From 2004 to 2007, she served as Assistant to the Commissioner of Internal Revenue. From 2008 to 2011, she served as a member of the Tax Controversy and Litigation Group at the law firm of Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP in Washington D.C. From 2011 to 2014, she served as the Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Appellate and Review in the Tax Division at the United States Department of Justice.[3][4]

From June 16, 2014, to December 2014 she served as the Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Tax Division of the Department of Justice.[5][2]

United States Tax Court

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On September 18, 2013, President Barack Obama nominated Ashford to be a Judge of the United States Tax Court for a term of fifteen years, to the seat vacated by Judge Mary Ann Cohen, who assumed senior status on October 1, 2012.[3][4] On January 15, 2014, Ashford testified before the Senate Finance Committee "that through her past experiences she has "amassed the temperament and skills to be an independent arbiter," and that if confirmed, she would resolve tax controversies "fairly, impartially and expeditiously.""[6] On February 4, 2014, her nomination was reported out of committee.[7]

On November 20, 2014, the United States Senate confirmed her by voice vote. She assumed office on December 19, 2014.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Nominations of R. Gil Kerlikowske, L. Paige Marvel, and Tamara Wenda Ashford: Hearing Before the Committee on Finance, United States Senate, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, on the Nominations of R. Gil Kerlikowske, to be Commissioner, Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security; L. Paige Marvel, to be a Judge of the United States Tax Court; and Tamara Wenda Ashford, to be a Judge of the United States Tax Court, January 15, 2014
  2. ^ a b c "United States Tax Court: Judge Ashford". Archived from the original on 2018-12-13. Retrieved 2015-01-07.
  3. ^ a b c "President Obama Nominates Tamara W. Ashford to the United States Tax Court". White House, Office of the Press Secretary. September 17, 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  4. ^ a b "Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate". The White House, Office of the Press Secretary. September 18, 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  5. ^ Archived Bio
  6. ^ "TAX COURT JUDGE NOMINEE ASHFORD TESTIFIES BEFORE FINANCE COMMITTEE". Tax Notes Today (2014 TNT 11-29). January 2014.
  7. ^ Shreve, Meg (February 2014). "FINANCE COMMITTEE APPROVES ASHFORD AND MARVEL FOR TAX COURT". Tax Notes Today. 2014 TNT 25-5.
Legal offices
Preceded by Judge of the United States Tax Court
2014–present
Incumbent