Judge Dennis Jacobs
Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals
Dennis Jacobs was born in February 1944 in New York City. He earned an undergraduate degree from the City University of New York, received a Master of Arts in English literature from New York University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and later earned his Juris Doctor from New York University of Law. In the interim, Jacobs was a lecturer in the English Department of Queens College.
He engaged in the private practice of law. He was nominated by President George H.W. Bush to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He was confirmed by the Senate and received his commission in October 1992. Jacobs served as Chief Judge for seven years. In May 2019, he took senior status.
In the News…
In a 261-page ruling, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals struck down portions of the Concealed Carry Improvement Act of the state of New York that requires social media disclosures and restricts carrying on private property that is open to the public and in places of worship. At the same time, the court rejected a lower court’s decision that would block a portion of the law that requires applicants for a concealed carry permit to demonstrate “good moral character.”
The three-judge panel giving the mixed decision included Judge Dennis Jacobs, Judge Gerald Lynch, and Judge Eunice Lee.
“Given that most spaces in a community that are not private homes will be composed of private property open to the public to which § 265.01-d applies, the restricted location provision functionally creates a universal default presumption against carrying firearms in public places, seriously burdening lawful gun owners’ Second Amendment rights,” the court ruled.
On social media disclosures, the panel ruled, “[A]lthough the review of public social media posts by a licensing officer poses no constitutional difficulties, requiring applicants to disclose even pseudonymous names under which they post online imposes an impermissible infringement on Second Amendment rights that is unsupported by analogues in the historical record and moreover presents serious First Amendment concerns.”
Contact this Leader…
Did you pray for Judge Jacobs today? You can let him know at:
The Honorable Dennis Jacobs
Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals
Thurgood Marshall U.S. Courthouse
40 Foley Square
New York, NY 10007
