WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama sent the names of seven judges to the Senate Wednesday as his nominees for currently vacant slots in the federal judiciary, including an openly gay African-American nominee.
Judge William L. Thomas was nominated Wednesday to an opening on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
William Thomas
According to Judge Thomas’ biography, released Wednesday by the White House, Thomas has served as a circuit judge in Florida’s 11th Judicial Circuit since 2005, presiding over civil as well as criminal cases.
Before his elevation to the 11th Circuit, Thomas was an Assistant United States Public Defender for the Southern District of Florida and also spent time as an assistant public defender for greater Miami-Dade County, Florida. He is a 1994 graduate of the Temple University School of Law.
In the statement released by the White House, the president called for immediate consideration of the nominees including Judge Thomas citing the fact that too many courts are lacking judges.
“These individuals have demonstrated the talent, expertise, and fair-mindedness Americans expect and deserve from their judicial system,” Obama said.
“They also represent my continued commitment to ensure that the judiciary resembles the nation it serves. I am grateful for their willingness to serve and confident that they will apply the law with the utmost impartiality and integrity.”
“Today’s announcement also reflects the President’s historic commitment to advancing a diverse judiciary that looks like America,” said Nancy Zirkin, executive vice president of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, in a statement. “If confirmed, these nominees would bring more women, minorities, and openly gay judges to courts to better reflect the nation they serve.”
If confirmed by the Senate, Judge Thomas would become only the second out LGBT African-American to serve as a United States District Court judge.
Deborah Batts, nominated by then President Bill Clinton in 1994, to the District Court for the Southern District of New York, was the first openly LGBT African-American judge appointed to the federal judiciary.
Filed under: National Headlines
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Congratulations
that’s just awesome! <3
Congratulations, and the best of luck to you! ^_^
Go Obama….kicking doors down one at a time :)
Fuck yeah. <3
wooooo
Yes!!!!
nominates not appointed
Oh Mardell. So serious.
See elections do matter!
Temple Univ. graduate! Go Philly!
Niiiiice!!!!
Thats right…..
Yeah!!
Awesome.
Wonderful!
awesome paving the way for better things to come already I can see why everyone voted him in :D
AWESOME WAY TO GO
Yes!!! Now let’s get one on the U.S. Supreme Court after Hitler–um, I meant, Scalia, croaks…
Progress!
Its about time!!1
Oh, noes…they’re everywhere! >.<
Where are those LGBTs who thought Obama didn’t really care about us now!?
Love Obama
Horray!
:D
This is exactly the kind of judge the federal court needs!!!!!!!!! Things will change tremendously if he is elected, I think this is great, we need to figure out how to get him appointed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let’s see how long the GOP can hold this one up. Sigh.
YES!
The world will only be a better place when instead of “Obama nominates openly gay, African American…” we can simply have “Obama nominates Judge William L. Thomas to an opening on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.” The world will never be a better place, if the first things we see are skin color, and sexual preference.
Unfortunatey. as some from that “side of the aisle’ are on the youngish side, which was George II intention.
I love youth. They are so naively positive and hopeful as if everything they think and do it is the first time that act or thought has occurred. I have been involved with EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL since the late 60′s. This is not a new concept and trust me Obama is not the answer or the Savior the young generation n is seeking.
Once again… LOVE our President!
Repeal DOMA!!!
YesBama
Nice. Awesome
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151245146974483&set=a.241865839482.134537.241756214482&type=1&theater
waiting for his supreme court nominations if we have retirements!