U.S SEC Names New Chief Administrative Law Judge

The U.S Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) made an announcement on Dec. 17 2021 in D.C., announcing the regulator's new Chief Administrative Law Judge, James E. Grimes, who succeeds Brenda Murray after her retirement. Brenda served as SEC's Chief Administrative Law Judge for 25 years.

Grimes worked at the U.S. Department of Justice as a senior litigation counsel on behalf of government agencies and officers before federal district and appellate courts for 13 years before he was appointed as an SEC Administrative Law Judge in 2014.

Graduated Phi Beta Kappa and cum laude in 1992 from Miami University in Ohio, and graduated with honors from the Ohio State University College of Law in 1995, Grimes started his career with the Navy Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps as a trial defense attorney defending service members in courts-martial and as an appellate counsel representing the government before military appellate tribunals.

Judge Grimes will lead the SEC's impartial Office of Administrative Law Judges that conducts hearings, issues initial decisions, and adjudicates matters in administrative proceedings before the agency, according to the SEC announcement.