President Barack Obama has nominated his first openly gay black judge for the federal court.
Judge William L. Thomas is now under consideration for the U.S District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
If confirmed, he’ll be the second “out” black judge on the federal bench. Thomas is the eighth “out” judge nominated to the federal bench by Obama, but the first African-American.
“These individuals have demonstrated the talent, expertise, and fair-mindedness Americans expect and deserve from their judicial system,†President Obama said in a statement. “They also represent my continued commitment to ensure that the judiciary resembles the nation it serves.â€
Judge William L. Thomas has served as a Circuit Judge in Florida’s 11th Judicial Circuit since 2005, presiding over both civil and criminal matters. Prior to that, he was an Assistant Federal Public Defender in Miami-Dade County Florida. He received his B.A. from Washington and Jefferson College in 1991 and his J.D. from Temple University School of Law in 1994.