J. Frederick Motz

J. Frederick Motz (born December 30, 1942) is a Senior United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. He has served as judge on that court since 1985. His previous experience included a range of positions as an Assistant United States Attorney and United States Attorney, and more than a decade in private practice. He is also chairman of the board of Trustees for Sheppard Pratt Health System, one of the leading mental health providers in the United States which has been constantly ranked in the top 10 by U.S. News & World Report.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Motz received an Artium Baccalaureus degree from Wesleyan University in 1964 and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1967. He served as a law clerk to Judge Harrison Lee Winter of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit from 1967 to 1968. He was in private practice in Baltimore from 1968 to 1969. He was an Assistant United States Attorney of the District of Maryland from 1969 to 1971. He was in private practice in Baltimore from 1971 to 1981. He was the United States Attorney for the District of Maryland from 1981 to 1985. His wife, Diana Gribbon Motz, sits on the Fourth Circuit.

On April 23, 1985, Motz was nominated by President Ronald Reagan to a new seat on the United States District Court for the District of Maryland created by 98 Stat. 333. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 11, 1985, and received his commission on July 12, 1985. He served as Chief Judge from 1994 to 2001. He took senior status on December 17, 2010.

In July 2006, Judge Motz struck down Maryland's "Wal-Mart Law" for violating the federal ERISA act. The Maryland law, Motz wrote, "violates ERISA's fundamental purpose of permitting multi-state employers to maintain nationwide health and welfare plans, providing uniform nationwide benefits and permitting uniform national administration." Republicans, including Gov. Ehrlich who was running for re-election, applauded this ruling on the grounds it would make Maryland a more friendly environment for new business.

In December 2011, Motz presided at the two-month trial in Salt Lake City of an anti-competition lawsuit where Novell claimed $1 billion from Microsoft. The issue was Microsoft's discontinuance of a Windows feature that Novell's WordPerfect software depended on; the company argued a theory of cross-market injury. Microsoft CEO Bill Gates testified on the witness stand for two days in defending his decision during the two-month trial. The complex case had been under litigation for seven years. On December 16, Judge Motz declared a mistrial due to a hung jury; after three days it had not reached the unanimous decision required. Corby Alvey, a 21-year-old security guard, held out for the defense position. Discussion with jurors afterward showed that the eleven who sided with Novell were divided in some of their thinking.

• J. Frederick Motz at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.