NPLA Clerkship Panel

The Honorable J. Michelle Childs was appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in July 2022. Judge Childs holds an undergraduate degree in Management from the University of South Florida Honors College, a law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law, a Masters in Personnel and Employment Relations from the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business, a Masters of Judicial Studies from Duke University School of Law, and an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Public Service from the University of South Carolina.

From 1992 to 2000, Judge Childs worked at Nexsen Pruet, ultimately achieving the designation of partner. Upon acceptance of a gubernatorial appointment, she served from 2000 to 2002 as the Deputy Director for the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation’s Division of Labor. From 2002 to 2006, as the result of another gubernatorial appointment, Judge Childs served as a commissioner on the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission. In 2006, the South Carolina General Assembly elected her as a state circuit court judge. During her time on the state bench, Judge Childs served as chief administrative judge for General Sessions, which is South Carolina’s criminal court, and as chief administrative judge for the state’s business court. In 2010, she was appointed to the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, where she served until her appointment to the D.C. Circuit.

Judge Childs is active with various local, state, and national bar organizations, as well as community organizations. Judge Childs is the past President of the Federal Judges Association. She has been named to the American Inns of Court Board of Trustees and the United States Supreme Court Fellows Commission. Within the American Bar Association, she is the Chair of the Appellate Judges Conference, a member of the Administrative Law Council, a fellow of the American Bar Foundation, a fellow in the Litigation Section, and a member of the Committee on the American Judicial System. Formerly, she was the Chair of the American Bar Association’s Judicial Division, the Secretary of the American Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Law Section, and Chair of the Appellate Judges Education Institute Conference. Judge Childs is also a member of the American Law Institute and its Council, having served as an Advisor to the Restatement (Third) of Employment Law. She currently serves on the Bolch Judicial Institute Advisory Board and joined the class of 2022 Rodel Judicial Fellows.