1. Dee Vance Benson was an American jurist who served as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Utah.
36 Facts About Dee Benson
1. 2.
In May 2004, Chief Justice William Rehnquist appointed Benson to serve as a judge of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court for a seven-year term.
3.
Dee Benson was born in Sandy, Utah and graduated from Jordan High School.
4.
From 1976 to 1984, Dee Benson practiced law in private practice.
5.
Dee Benson was a Counsel, US Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on the Constitution from 1984 to 1986.
6.
Dee Benson was a Counsel, Iran-Contra Congressional Investigating Committee in 1987.
7.
Dee Benson was an Associate deputy US attorney general from 1988 to 1989.
8.
Dee Benson was a US Attorney for the District of Utah from 1989 to 1991.
9.
Dee Benson was a federal judge to the United States District Court for the District of Utah.
10.
Dee Benson was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 12,1991, and received his commission on September 16,1991.
11.
Dee Benson served as chief judge of the district from 1999 until 2006.
12.
Dee Benson took senior status on January 1,2014, and died of brain cancer in 2020, at his home, in Sandy, Utah.
13.
Dee Benson was born, along with his identical twin brother, Lee Benson, on August 25,1948, in Sandy, Utah.
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Dee Benson then attended BYU in Provo, Utah, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1973, majoring in Physical Education with a minor in political science.
15.
That same year, Benson became a member of the charter class at the J Reuben Clark Law School at BYU.
16.
Dee Benson went on to receive his Juris Doctor in the spring of 1976.
17.
Dee Benson was a member of Utah's team, The Golden Spikers for the 1976 year.
18.
From 1984 through 1989, Dee Benson served in various US government posts in Washington, DC, including:.
19.
In 1989, Dee Benson was appointed United States attorney for the District of Utah.
20.
Dee Benson was recommended to the post by his former boss, Senator Orrin Hatch to replace US attorney Brent Ward.
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Dee Benson's recommendation was further supported by Senator Jake Garn and by United States Attorney General Richard Thornburgh.
22.
Dee Benson was sworn in under an interim appointment on March 7,1989.
23.
Dee Benson was confirmed by the Senate and began serving on September 16,1991.
24.
Dee Benson held the position of Chief Judge of the District Court from 1999 to 2007.
25.
Dee Benson served in this capacity until 2011 when his seven-year term expired.
26.
In 2011, Judge Dee Benson sentenced eco-activist Tim DeChristopher to two years in prison for disrupting an oil auction in 2008.
27.
Dee Benson had barred DeChristopher's defense team from explaining to the jury why he disrupted the auction.
28.
Critics have accused Judge Dee Benson for doling a harsh sentence to DeChristopher.
29.
In 2012, Judge Dee Benson denied convicted felon Dewey MacKay's request to remain free pending appeal of his guilty verdict.
30.
Dee Benson said that America's jury system is not perfect, but added that jurors in MacKay's case performed their jobs diligently.
31.
Judge Dee Benson ruled in favor of Salazar because the lawsuit was not filed within the statute of limitations mandating the filing of any challenge within 90 days of the Secretary's decision.
32.
Dee Benson claimed that he did so as an act of civil disobedience.
33.
On July 26,2011, Dee Benson sentenced DeChristopher to two years in prison and a fine of $10,000.
34.
Judge Dee Benson stated in his ruling, "The court finds many of these policy arguments persuasive," Dee Benson wrote, but said it was not his place to make such decisions.
35.
Judge Dee Benson ruled against the group, holding their right to free speech had not been violated.
36.
Judge Dee Benson denied 4 Motions for Summary Judgment by Microsoft to have the case dismissed.