Kevin Castel

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Kevin Castel
Image of Kevin Castel
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (senior status)
Tenure

2017 - Present

Years in position

6

Prior offices
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York

Education

Bachelor's

St. John's University, 1972

Law

St. John's University School of Law, 1975

Personal
Birthplace
New York


P. Kevin Castel is a federal judge on senior status with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. He joined the court in 2003 after being nominated by President George W. Bush.

Philip Halpern was nominated by President Donald Trump (R) to replace Castel on the Southern District of New York.

Early life and education

Born in Jamaica, New York, Castel graduated from St. John`s University with his bachelor's degree in 1972 and from St. John`s University School of Law with his J.D. in 1975.[1]

Professional career

  • 2017 - Present: Senior judge
  • 2003-2017: Judge

Judicial career

Southern District of New York

Nomination Tracker
Fedbadgesmall.png
Nominee Information
Name: P. Kevin Castel
Court: United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
Progress
Confirmed 196 days after nomination.
ApprovedANominated: March 5, 2003
ApprovedAABA Rating: Unanimously Well Qualified
Questionnaire:
ApprovedAHearing: July 22, 2003
Hearing Transcript: Hearing Transcript
QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
ApprovedAReported: July 31, 2003 
ApprovedAConfirmed: September 17, 2003
ApprovedAVote: Voice vote

Castel was nominated to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York by President George W. Bush on March 5, 2003, to a seat vacated by Lawrence McKenna. The American Bar Association rated Castel Unanimously Well Qualified for the nomination. Hearings on Castel's nomination were held before the Senate Judiciary Committee on July 22, 2003, and his nomination was reported by U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) on July 31, 2003. Castel was confirmed on a voice vote of the U.S. Senate on September 17, 2003, and he received his commission on September 22, 2003. Castel elected to take senior status beginning on August 5, 2017.[1][2][3]

Noteworthy cases

USA v. John Gotti Jr. (2009)

See also: United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (USA v. John Gotti Jr., 8:08-cr 00312.T.23EAJ)

In 2009, Judge Castel presided in the John "Junior" Gotti case on charges of conspiring and drug trafficking, under 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1962(d).[4][5] This was the fourth trial of Gotti; the three previous trials ended with hung juries.[6]

On July 8, 2009 Judge Castel denied requests to throw out a racketeering indictment and grant bond to Gotti while he was awaiting trial in September of 2009. The motion was made as Gotti had health problems, including kidney stones. Attorneys for Gotti made the request due to complaints of the lack of attention towards the issue at the correctional facility.[6]

On December 1, 2009, Judge Castel declared a mistrial in the case. This happened after a jury was deadlocked for eleven days in trying to reach a verdict. It was reported that the jury could not find unanimous consent in reaching a verdict.[7]

For more information on the case, see generally:

See also

External links

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by:
Lawrence McKenna
Southern District of New York
2003–2017
Succeeded by:
Philip Halpern