Early life, education and legal training
Born in Durham, North Carolina, Clay earned a Bachelor of Arts degree Phi Beta Kappa from the University of North Carolina in 1969 and aProfessional career
Clay worked as a lawyer in private practice in Detroit, Michigan from 1973 until 1997. He was a partner and co-founder of Lewis, White & Clay, which was considered to be one of the nation's leading black-owned law firms. In addition, he also served on the executive board of the Clinton-Gore finance committee for Michigan in 1992. David Baker Lewis, Clay's law partner, was the husband of Kathleen McCree Lewis, a Clinton nominee to the Sixth Circuit who was never confirmed.Federal judicial service
On March 6, 1996, President Bill Clinton nominated Clay to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit vacated by Judge Ralph B. Guy, Jr. The United States Senate Judiciary Committee approved Clay's nomination in 1996, but the United States Senate adjourned in 1996 prior to the presidential election without taking a full confirmation vote. Clinton renominated Clay on January 7, 1997. Clay was unanimously confirmed by the full Senate in a voice vote on July 31, 1997, and received his commission on August 1, 1997.See also
* List of African-American federal judges * List of African-American juristsReferences
External links
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Clay, Eric Lee 1948 births African-American judges Judges of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit Living people People from Durham, North Carolina United States court of appeals judges appointed by Bill Clinton University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumni Yale Law School alumni 20th-century American judges 21st-century American judges