Kevin G. Ritz

Kevin Gafford Ritz (born October 15, 1974) is an American lawyer who has served as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee since September 2022. He is a nominee to serve as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Education
A native of Memphis, Ritz graduated from White Station High School. Ritz received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia in 1997, where he was a Jefferson Scholar. He later received a Master of Science from Georgetown University in 1999, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2004.

Career
From 2004 to 2005, Ritz served as a law clerk for Judge Julia Smith Gibbons of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. In 2005, he became an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney's office for the Western District of Tennessee. Ritz worked as a prosecutor in drug trafficking and gun-related crimes before moving to appellate law later in his career. He appeared as counsel in United States v. Castleman.

U.S. attorney for the Western District of Tennessee
On July 29, 2022, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Ritz to be the United States attorney for the Western District of Tennessee. On August 1, 2022, his nomination was sent to the United States Senate, and the nomination was confirmed on September 22, 2022, by voice vote. Ritz was sworn in by Chief Judge S. Thomas Anderson on September 28, 2022.

Nomination to the court of appeals
On March 20, 2024, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Ritz to serve as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. His nomination drew opposition from Senator Marsha Blackburn, who said the White House had abandoned discussions with her and fellow Tennessee senator Bill Hagerty about finding a nominee for the position. On March 21, 2024, his nomination was sent to the Senate. President Biden nominated Ritz to the seat being vacated by Judge Julia Smith Gibbons, who announced her intent to assume senior status upon confirmation of a successor. On April 17, 2024, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee. During his hearing, Republican senators raised questions about an ethics complaint filed against Ritz during his time as an assistant United States attorney. In the case, the defense counsel accused Ritz of misrepresenting charges during a plea agreement in a criminal case. Ritz said he was unaware of the ethics complaint that had been filed against him. He was also questioned about why federal gun charges were not brought against a man allegedly involved in the fatal shooting of Memphis police officer Joseph McKinney. On May 9, 2024, his nomination was favorably reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee by an 11–10 party-line vote. His nomination is pending before the United States Senate.