Longtime federal defender Charles Fleming would be, if confirmed, the second black judge on the Northern District, after Judge Solomon Oliver.
Background
Born in 1962, Charles Esque Fleming received his B.A. from Kent State University in 1986 and his J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 1990. After law school, Fleming spent a year as an associate at Forbes, Forbes & Associates before becoming an assistant federal defender, where he has worked ever since.
History of the Seat
Fleming has been nominated for a seat on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. This seat was vacated on January 31, 2021, when Judge James Gwin moved to senior status.
Legal Experience
Other than a brief stint in private practice, Fleming has spent his entire legal career as a federal defender, representing indigent defendants at the trial and appellate levels in Northern Ohio. Among the matters he handled there, Fleming successfully suppressed evidence obtained against his client through an illegal arrest. See United States v. Walker, 43 F. Supp. 2d 828 (N.D. Ohio 1998).
Fleming has also had the opportunity to argue a number of appellate matters as federal defender. For example, Fleming challenged the conviction of one of his clients where a juror brought a dictionary into the deliberation room and looked up the definition of “reasonable.” See United States v. Gillespie, 61 F.3d 457 (6th Cir. 1995). The Sixth Circuit rejected the challenge by noting that the trial judge had taken appropriate measures to ensure that the independent investigation had not affected the jury verdict. See id. at 460. Fleming also challenged an in-court identification of his client after the victim was shown a photograph of him by the police during a line-up. United States v. Meyer, 359 F.3d 820 (6th Cir. 2004). A divided panel of the Sixth Circuit affirmed the conviction.
In one notable case, Fleming convinced Judge Gwin to suppress evidence obtained through a police stop where the officer asked the defendant to see his identification, leading to a warrantless arrest and search of his vehicle. See United States v. Campbell, 486 F.3d 949 (6th Cir. 2007). However, a divided panel of the Sixth Circuit reversed the grant of the motion to suppress, over the dissent of Judge Ransey Guy Cole. Id. at 958.
Political Activity
Fleming has a handful of political contributions to his name, one each to the senatorial and presidential campaigns of Barack Obama and one to Florida Democrat Kendrick Meek.
Overall Assessment
Fleming would bring three decades of criminal defense experience to the bench. While some nominees with public defense experience have been criticized lately for a narrow focus of experience (in a manner that nominees who have only been prosecutors have not been), it is unlikely that such arguments will derail Fleming’s nomination.
The Vetting Room 
Charles Fleming is a solid pick. The only thing keeping me from calling him a great pick is of course his age. But in the first batch of nominees from a state with at least one Republican senator, it is the best we could probably expect.
Both Ohio senators work in good faith to get judicial nominees regardless of who is president. I’ll be happy with Mr. Fleming on the bench even if for a decade or more shorter then the other two nominees. Even with his age he is still a better nominee then at least four of the six New Jersey picks & they have two Democrat senators.
LikeLike
Charles Fleming was the only one at the last hearing, who completely convinced me, an impressive character, who was well-prepared, a good choice, I think his confirmation would make a change I can’t see at the other two nominiees, although he’s a decade older and may serve for a shorter time.
LikeLike
Fleming’s handled the sexual abuse & rape questions he got very well. He was a lawyer for bad people but his job is still to defend them. Ted Cruz & Josh Hawley know that but of course they act as if they don’t.
LikeLike
I would say that is a badge of honor to be opposed by Cruz and Hawley, but it is such a low bar (since they oppose basically anyone who isn’t far right) that it is meaningless as an honor.
LikeLike
I expect all three Ohio nominees to be confirmed. Fleming will likely have a closer margin than the other two nominees, but with Rob Portman in his column, he has little to fear.
LikeLike
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.
Also, Harsh Voruganti, thank you for maintaining this interesting and informative site. Hope you have a great day.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Happy Thanksgiving all. I agree with Mitch. Thanks to those who created & maintain this site. I enjoy the discussions we all have on this all important topic (And my personal number one issue when I vote) of federal judges.
LikeLiked by 2 people
So who was Portman’s choice – Ruiz, Brennan or Fleming? I assume he had one pick and Brown got two. I’d go with Brennan who might get the most votes of any Biden nominee so far.
LikeLike
The statement Portman released stated it was an independent commission. Some states with split senators do it that way. I believe Pennsylvania does it the way your talking about in which the senator from the party of the president gets to pick a certain amount of nominees versus one for the senator out of party of the president.
LikeLike
Here is a report about him, with some interesting details about his career, in my opinion one of best district court choices so far.
http://www.akronlegalnews.com/editorial/32016
LikeLike
Charles Fleming was a solid pick. As I’ve said before the only bad thing I can say about him is he is in his 60’s. Other then that, he was a federal defender for decades & was a district court nominee from a purple state with blue slips in play.
LikeLike