Jane Richards Roth


Jane Richards Roth is a Senior United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and a former United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware.

Education and career

Roth was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Smith College in 1956. She received a Bachelor of Laws from Harvard Law School in 1965. She served as a typist and administrative assistant in the Foreign Service of the United States Department of State from 1956 to 1962. She was stationed in Tehran, Iran from 1957 to 1959. She was stationed in Salisbury, Rhodesia in 1960. She was stationed in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo from 1960 to 1962.
She was in private practice of law in Wilmington, Delaware from 1965 to 1985, with the law firm of Richards, Layton & Finger.

Federal judicial service

Roth was nominated by President Ronald Reagan on October 16, 1985, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Delaware vacated by Judge Walter King Stapleton. She was confirmed by the United States Senate on November 1, 1985, and received commission on November 4, 1985. Her service was terminated on July 22, 1991, due to elevation to the Third Circuit.
Roth was nominated by President George H. W. Bush on May 16, 1991, to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit vacated by Judge Collins J. Seitz. She was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 27, 1991, and received commission on July 2, 1991. She assumed senior status on May 31, 2006.

View of Nomination

When asked about the nomination and whether she felt that her husband's support at the time was beneficial, Roth stated; "I believe if I were not qualified his recommendation would make no difference..." and that the fact that she was a woman and the Reagan administration was looking for more women judges was more advantageous.

Personal

Her husband was the late Delaware Senator William V. Roth, Jr. They had two children, Katharine K. Roth and William V. Roth III.

Honor

Roth was inducted into the Hall of Fame of Delaware Women in 2013.