J. Thomas Marten

For the 15th-century academic, see John Marten (academic).

J. Thomas Marten
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Kansas
In office May 1, 2017 – May 1, 2021
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Kansas
In office April 22, 2014 – May 1, 2017
Preceded by	Kathryn H. Vratil
Succeeded by	Julie A. Robinson
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Kansas
In office January 4, 1996 – May 1, 2017
Appointed by	Bill Clinton
Preceded by	Patrick F. Kelly
Succeeded by	John W. Broomes
Personal details
Born	John Thomas Marten (1951-11-24) November 24, 1951 Topeka, Kansas, U.S.
Education	Washburn University (BA, JD)

John Thomas Marten (born November 24, 1951) is a former United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Kansas.

Education and career

Marten was born in Topeka, Kansas. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washburn University in 1973 and a Juris Doctor from Washburn University School of Law in 1976. He was a law clerk to former Associate Justice Tom C. Clark of the Supreme Court of the United States while Clark had senior status and was a visiting judge on several United States Courts of Appeals from 1976 to 1977. He was in private practice in Omaha, Nebraska from 1977 to 1980, then in Minneapolis, Minnesota until 1981, and then in McPherson, Kansas until 1996.

Federal judicial service

On October 18, 1995, Marten was nominated by President Bill Clinton to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Kansas vacated by Patrick F. Kelly. Marten was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 2, 1996, and received his commission on January 4, 1996. He served as Chief Judge from April 22, 2014 to May 1, 2017. He assumed senior status on May 1, 2017. He retired from the bench on May 1, 2021.

Notable case

On August 15, 2013, Judge Marten held that an abortion opponent's letter to a Wichita doctor stating that someone might place an explosive under her car, absent sufficient contextual evidence indicating an imminent threat, is constitutionally protected speech and not a "true threat" under existing law. Judge Marten noted that the government supplied no evidence that actual violence against Dr. Mila Means was likely or imminent, especially since after receiving the letter the doctor changed plans to provide abortion services in Kansas.

See also

• List of law clerks of the Supreme Court of the United States (Seat 10)

Sources

• J. Thomas Marten at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.