J. Paul Oetken was confirmed by the U.S. Senate bya vote of 80 to 13 to become the first openly gay man
to serve on the federal bench. Obama nominated him
for the bench in January on the recommendation of
Sen. Charles Schumer of New York. Schumer said that
Oetken brought “diversity,” which he called a “bonus”
in addition to attributes of “excellence & moderation.”
Oetken will join U.S. District Judge Deborah Batts on
the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New
York. Judge Batts was appointed during the Clinton
administration is the first openly LGBT person to sit
on a federal court. Obama also has nominated Alison
Nathan an out lesbian, for a judgeship in the Southern
District of New York, also on recommendation from
Schumer. Her confirmation awaits a vote in the full
Senate after a hearing last month. Edmund Dumont,
who is gay, has been nominated by Obama to serve as
an appellate judge on the U.S. court of appeals for the
federal circuit but his nomination still awaits a hearing.
Now if the closeted federal & higher court judges would
just bite the bullet & come OUT…:)
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As the first openly gay man to be confirmed as a federal judge, Paul Oetken is living proof that it really does get better. His confirmation moves us one step closer toward equality. But long after today, what the history books will remember about Paul are his achievements as a fair and brilliant judge, his unwavering dedication to public service and the Constitution of the United States, and his commitment to the rule of law.
ReplyDeleteAs the first openly gay man to be confirmed as a federal judge and to serve on the federal bench, he will be a symbol of how much we have achieved as a country in just the last few decades.
Senator Charles Schumer, (D-New York)