PETER J. MESSITTE

            District Judge Peter J. Messitte was born in Washington, D. C. on July 17, 1941.  Judge Messitte attained academic distinction when he received his bachelor’s degree cum laude from Amherst College in 1963.  He continued his education at the University of Chicago Law School where he obtained a law degree in 1966.  While at the University of Chicago Law School, Judge Messitte was honored with first prize in the Karl Llewelyn Moot Court Competition in 1965.

            Immediately after law school graduation, Judge Messitte joined the Peace Corps as a volunteer and was stationed in Sao Paulo, Brazil until 1968.  Upon his return to the States, he elected to enter private practice, first in Washington, D. C.  from 1969 to 1971, and then in Chevy Chase, Maryland from 1971 to 1985.  From 1985 to 1993, Judge Messitte served as an Associate Judge for the Circuit Court of Maryland, Sixth Judicial Circuit.  Judge Messitte was nominated for appointment as a United States District Judge by President Clinton on August 6, 1993.  His appointment was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 18, 1993; and on October 20, 1993, Judge Messitte received his commission. 

            Judge Messitte is a member of various professional organizations, such as the Montgomery County, Maryland, District of Columbia, American, Federal and Inter- American Bar Associations. He is also a member of the Montgomery County Inn of Court, Bencher and the American Law Institute; and was Vice-President and General Counsel, Community Psychiatric Clinic, 1975-85; and Delegate, Democratic Party National Convention (chair of uncommitted delegate caucus). Awards received include the Distinguished Alumnus Award, Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, 1984; the Elizabeth Scull Award for outstanding community service to Montgomery County, 1993; the Century of Service Award for Contributions to the Administration of Justice, Bar Association of Montgomery County, Maryland, 1999; the H. Vernon Eney Endowment Fund Award for Contributions to the Administration of Justice, Maryland Bar Foundation, 2001; the Gran Cruz da Ordem de São José Operário for Judicial Merit in the Field of Labor, Tribunal Regional do Trabalho, Mato Grosso, Brazil, 2001; the Medalha de Mérito Acadêmico, Academia Paulista de Magistrados, for Academic Contributions to the Brazilian Judiciary, 2002; and the Leadership in Law Award, Daily Record (Maryland), 2002. Judge Messitte was a member of the International Judicial Relations Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States between 1997 and 2003, where he chaired the Working Group for Latin America and the Caribbean. He has served as a consultant on judicial reform projects throughout Latin America and Africa, and most recently in Turkey.