Appointed by Barack Obama Preceded by Nina Gershon | Alma mater Harvard University Name William Kuntz | |
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Education Harvard Law School, Harvard University |
William Francis Kuntz II (born 1950) is a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
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Early life and education
Born in New York City, New York, Kuntz earned an Artium Baccalaureus in 1972 from Harvard College. He then earned an Artium Magister in 1974 and a Doctor of Philosophy in 1979 from Harvard University and a Juris Doctor in 1977 from Harvard Law School.
Professional career
From 1978 until 1986, Kuntz was an associate in the New York law firm Shearman & Sterling. From 1986 until 1994, Kuntz was a partner in the New York law firm Milgrim Thomajan Jacobs & Lee, and from 1994 until 2001, Kuntz was a partner in the New York law firm Seward & Kissel. From 2001 until 2004, he was a partner in the New York office of the Canadian law firm Torys LLP, and from 2004 until 2005, he was counsel at the New York law firm Constantine & Cannon. From 2005 until becoming a federal judge, Kuntz was a partner in the New York office of the law firm Baker Hostetler. His specialty is commercial and labor litigation. Prior to his appointment to the EDNY, Mr. Kuntz was the New York City Council’s designee from Kings County to the Civilian Complaints Review Board from October 1993 through 2010.
Federal judicial service
On March 9, 2011, President Obama nominated Kuntz to fill a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York that became vacant when Judge Nina Gershon took senior status in 2008. The United States Senate confirmed Kuntz by unanimous consent on October 3, 2011. He received his judicial commission the following day.
Personal
Kuntz's wife, Dr. Alice Beal, is the director of palliative care for the New York Harbor Healthcare System Veterans Administration. They live in Brooklyn, New York, where they are members of the parish of the Brooklyn Oratory of St. Boniface. Kuntz's son, Will, is the Director of Player Relations & Competition for Major League Soccer. His daughter Katherine is a physician, training in infectious diseases.