MIAMI – This month, the White House announced the nomination of Judge William Thomas to serve on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. If approved by the U.S. Senate, Thomas will be the first openly-gay black man to serve as a federal judge.
Of Thomas—who serves currently as a judge on Florida’s 11th Judicial Circuit—President Obama said that he and six other nominees “represent my continued commitment to ensure that the judiciary resembles the nation it serves.”
Thomas is the seventh openly gay attorney nominated for a federal judgeship, which includes lifetime tenure. The first openly-gay black jurist nominated by Obama, Thomas would be the second out black judge. (Semi-retired federal Judge Deborah Batts was nominated by President Bill Clinton. She was also the first openly-gay federal judge.)
