Sixth Circuit / Appointed 1977 / Served to 2022
Gilbert Stroud Merritt Jr.
Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
Appointed by President Jimmy Carter in 1977 and confirmed by voice vote, Gilbert Stroud Merritt Jr. was a Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. He earned a law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1960. Sources: FJC Biographical Directory · Senate confirmation, October 29, 1977
- Appointed by
- Jimmy Carter, 1977
- Confirmed
- by voice vote
- Education
- Yale 1957 · Vanderbilt Law School 1960
- Succeeded
- William Ernest Miller
- Succeeded by
- Julia Smith Gibbons
Federal judicial service
| Year | Court | Appointed by | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Sixth Circuit · succeeded William Ernest Miller | Carter (D) | voice |
A per-senator roll-call isn’t shown for this confirmation. The Senate’s recorded roll-call votes begin in 1989; many confirmations (especially before then, and most to the lower courts) were by voice vote or unanimous consent.
Education
| Yale University | B.A. | 1957 |
| Vanderbilt University Law School | LL.B. | 1960 |
| Harvard Law School | LL.M. | 1962 |
Sources
44 years on the Sixth Circuit. Data last verified 2026-06-28. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).