Kevin H. Sharp

For other people named Kevin Sharp, see Kevin Sharp (disambiguation).

Kevin Hunter Sharp (born January 22, 1963) is a former United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee.

Kevin Sharp
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee
In office October 1, 2014 – April 15, 2017
Preceded by	William Joseph Haynes Jr.
Succeeded by	Waverly D. Crenshaw Jr.
Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee
In office May 3, 2011 – April 15, 2017
Appointed by	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Robert L. Echols
Succeeded by	William L. Campbell Jr.
Personal details
Born	(1963-01-22) January 22, 1963 (age 62) Memphis, Tennessee
Political party	Democratic
Education	Mesa Community College (AA) Christian Brothers University (BS) Vanderbilt University (JD)

Early life and education

Sharp was born on January 22, 1963, in Memphis, Tennessee.^[1] He earned an Associate of Arts from Mesa Community College in 1988.^[2] Sharp then received a Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude, from Christian Brothers College (now known as Christian Brothers University) in 1990 and a Juris Doctor from Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1993.^[3][4]

Federal judicial service

During the 111th Congress, Democrats from the Tennessee House delegation provided recommendations to the Obama White House for filling a vacancy on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee.^[5] Sharp, himself a Democrat, was included on the original list of recommendations, but the delegation ultimately recommended Nashville attorney Kathryn Barnett as its first choice.^[5] However, Sharp was the preferred choice of Republican Tennessee Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker.^[5]

On November 17, 2010, President Barack Obama nominated Sharp to a judgeship on the Middle District of Tennessee.^[3] His nomination was for the seat vacated by Judge Robert L. Echols.^[6] On May 2, 2011, the United States Senate confirmed his nomination by a 89–0 vote.^[7] He received his commission on May 3, 2011,^[4] and served as Chief Judge beginning October 1, 2014.^[4][8] On January 26, 2017, he sent a letter to President Trump resigning his judgeship effective April 15, 2017.^[9][10]

Personal

Sharp's former father-in-law, Lew Conner, is a former state court judge and a prominent Republican fundraiser who has donated over forty thousand dollars to the campaigns and political action committees of Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker.^[5]