Elizabeth A. Copeland

Elizabeth A. Copeland
Elizabeth A. Copeland
	Copeland in 2018
Judge of the United States Tax Court
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; October 12, 2018
Appointed by	Donald Trump
Preceded by	James Halpern
Personal details
Born	June 1, 1964 (age 60); Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.
Education	University of Texas, Austin (BBA, JD)

Elizabeth Ann Copeland (born June 1, 1964) is an American lawyer who serves as a judge of the United States Tax Court.

Biography

Copeland was born on June 1, 1964, in Colorado Springs, Colorado.^[1] She received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, cum laude, in 1986 from the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to attending law school, she worked at Ernst & Whinney (now Ernst & Young) from 1986 to 1989. Copeland received a Juris Doctor in 1992 from the University of Texas School of Law. While attending law school, she served as a law clerk to Justice Eugene A. Cook of the Supreme Court of Texas. She began her legal career as an attorney adviser to Judge Mary Ann Cohen of the United States Tax Court, from 1992 to 1993. From 1993 to 2012, she practiced law with the firm of Oppenheimer, Blend, Harrison & Tate, Inc., becoming a shareholder in 2000. She practiced law with the firm of Strasburger & Price, LLP, in San Antonio, Texas, from 2012 to 2018, when she became a judge. She handled all matters pertaining to federal income taxation, including planning and tax controversies, and also dealt with the Internal Revenue Service at the administrative appeals level and in litigation.^[2]^[3]

Recognition and certifications

Copeland has been board certified in tax law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 2002. Tax Analysts named her a 2012 Tax Person of the Year in its national edition of Tax Notes. She served as chair of the State Bar of Texas Tax Section in 2013 to 2014 and is a Certified Public Accountant.^[4]

United States Tax Court service

Expired nomination under Obama

On May 4, 2015, President Barack Obama nominated Copeland to serve as a Judge of the United States Tax Court, to the seat vacated by Judge Diane Kroupa, who retired on June 16, 2014.^[5] She received a hearing before the United States Senate Committee on Finance on January 29, 2016.^[6] On April 18, 2016, her nomination was reported out of committee by a 26–0 vote.^[7] Her nomination expired on January 3, 2017, with the end of the 114th Congress.

Renomination to tax court under Trump

On August 3, 2017, President Donald Trump nominated Copeland to serve as a Judge of the United States Tax Court, to the seat vacated by Judge James Halpern, who retired on October 16, 2015.^[8] The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on her nomination on June 12, 2018, and then voted out her nomination unanimously on June 28, 2018.^[9] On August 28, 2018, her nomination was confirmed by voice vote.^[10] She took office on October 12, 2018.

References

^ "Lawyer Central profile". Archived from the original on April 8, 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
^ "President Obama Nominates Elizabeth Ann Copeland to the United States Tax Court" White House, May 1, 2015
^ "Official Biography at Strasburger & Price, LLP". Archived from the original on May 5, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
^ "President Obama Nominates Elizabeth Ann Copeland to the United States Tax Court" White House, May 1, 2015
^ "Presidential Nomination Sent to the Senate" White House, May 4, 2015
^ Hatch to Hold Nominations Hearing
^ Results of Open Executive Session To consider favorably reporting the nominations of Andrew LaMont Eanes, of Kansas, to be Deputy Commissioner of Social Security for the term expiring January 19, 2019; Elizabeth Ann Copeland, of Texas, to be a Judge of the United States Tax Court for a term of fifteen years; Vik Edwin Stoll, of Missouri, to be a Judge of the United States Tax Court for a term of fifteen years; April 18, 2016
^ "President Donald J. Trump Announces Sixth Wave of Judicial Candidates and Fifth Wave of U.S. Attorney Candidates", White House, August 3, 2017
^ "Finance Committee Advances Commerce, HHS & Tax Court Nominees | The United States Senate Committee on Finance". www.finance.senate.gov. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
^ "PN869 — Elizabeth Ann Copeland — United States Tax Court". United States Senate. August 3, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2018.

External links

Elizabeth Ann Copeland at Ballotpedia

Legal offices
Preceded by James Halpern	Judge of the United States Tax Court 2018–present	Incumbent

[1] "Lawyer Central profile". Archived from the original on April 8, 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2016.

[2] "President Obama Nominates Elizabeth Ann Copeland to the United States Tax Court" White House, May 1, 2015

[3] "Official Biography at Strasburger & Price, LLP". Archived from the original on May 5, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2015.

[4] "President Obama Nominates Elizabeth Ann Copeland to the United States Tax Court" White House, May 1, 2015

[5] "Presidential Nomination Sent to the Senate" White House, May 4, 2015

[6] Hatch to Hold Nominations Hearing

[7] Results of Open Executive Session To consider favorably reporting the nominations of Andrew LaMont Eanes, of Kansas, to be Deputy Commissioner of Social Security for the term expiring January 19, 2019; Elizabeth Ann Copeland, of Texas, to be a Judge of the United States Tax Court for a term of fifteen years; Vik Edwin Stoll, of Missouri, to be a Judge of the United States Tax Court for a term of fifteen years; April 18, 2016

[8] "President Donald J. Trump Announces Sixth Wave of Judicial Candidates and Fifth Wave of U.S. Attorney Candidates", White House, August 3, 2017

[9] "Finance Committee Advances Commerce, HHS & Tax Court Nominees | The United States Senate Committee on Finance". www.finance.senate.gov. Retrieved June 29, 2018.

[10] "PN869 — Elizabeth Ann Copeland — United States Tax Court". United States Senate. August 3, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2018.

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