Who is Judge Maryellen Noreika? Hunter Biden faces fresh problem as he comes up against Trump-appointee
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE: On Tuesday, June 20, the US Justice Department announced that Hunter Biden will plead guilty to two tax misdemeanors and strike a deal to go on probation to resolve a felony gun charge. As per court filings, the first son will head to a federal court in Delaware, where he will appear in front of Judge Maryellen Noreika, who was nominated to serve on the federal bench in 2017 by former US President Donald Trump.
As part of the plea deal, the Justice Department will recommend a sentence of probation for the two counts of failing to pay taxes in a timely matter, sources revealed as per CNN. However, the Trump-appointed judge will have the final say on the sentence. Trump-appointed US Attorney for Delaware, David Weiss, was previously in charge of the case looking into Biden’s finances and investigating if he lied on paperwork to obtain a gun after attesting he was not abusing drugs at the time. After heading to the federal court in July, Judge Noreika will preside over the case.
Who is Judge Maryellen Noreika?
Noreika is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. She was born on July 12, 1966, and earned her degree in Bachelor of Science from Lehigh University. She further received a Master of Arts degree in biology from Columbia University and received her Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Law.
The judge was even inducted into the Order of the Coif at the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Law and served as a member of the University of Pittsburgh Law Review. Noreika started her legal career after graduating from law school in 1993 and began serving as associate at Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell in Wilmington, Delaware. During her 25 years of service at the firm, Noreika served as counsel in over 500 cases and remained associated with Morris until she became a judge.
She also specialized in patent law, and represented parties in cases involving biotechnology, chemistry, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, consumer products and computer science. Trump nominated Noreika to serve as a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware on December 20, 2017, after Judge Gregory M. Sleet assumed senior status on May 1, 2017.
Noreika’s nomination hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee was held on February 14, 2018. Her nomination was reported out of committee by a voice vote on March 15, 2018, and confirmed by a voice vote on August 1, 2018. The judge received her judicial commission on August 9, 2018. Noreika received the blessing of two Democratic senators from Delaware at the time of her nomination. President Joe Biden also considered her as a potential nominee for a federal judgeship in the Federal Circuit.
What did David Weiss say about Hunter Biden’s case?
In the wake of Hunter’s plea deal, Republicans reportedly complained about a “two-tiered” system of justice, the Daily Mail reported. The response comes in the aftermath of Trump facing 37 federal charges over his mishandling of classified documents. On Tuesday, June 20, Weiss said the investigation surrounding Biden’s case is still ongoing.
While Weiss is still involved in the case, Judge Noreika will have to approve the agreement with prosecutors. The deal will possibly keep Biden out of jail as he will be asked to serve probation instead. Earlier this month, Weiss wrote a letter to House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan stating he had complete discretion over the handling of the case. Weiss was one of only a few Trump-appointed U.S. attorneys who sustained their jobs after Joe Biden was voted president.
Reports suggest that Biden kept Weiss as he was assigned the first son’s investigation. “I have been granted ultimate authority over this matter, including responsibility for deciding where, when, and whether to file charges and for making decisions necessary to preserve the integrity of the prosecution, consistent with federal law, the Principles of Federal Prosecution, and Departmental regulations,” Weiss told Jordan.
On Wednesday, June 21, Attorney General Merrick Garland also confirmed said that questions about the case should be sent to Weiss. “As I said from the moment of my appointment as attorney general, I would leave this matter in the hands of the United States attorney who was appointed by the previous president, and assigned to this matter by the previous administration,” Garland mentioned. “That he would be given full authority to decide the matter as he decided was appropriate. And that's what he's done. And if you have any further questions about that matter, you should direct them to the U.S. Attorney to explain his decision,” he added. Biden’s plea hearing is scheduled for 10 AM ET on July 26.