Judicial Appointments

WASHINGTON -- Nov. 17, 2009 – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Tuesday urged the Senate to vote to end the filibuster of the nomination of Judge David Hamilton to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Hamilton’s nomination has been pending on the Senate’s executive calendar since June 4.

President Obama nominated Judge Hamilton on March 17. He appeared before the Judiciary Committee twice, on April 1 and April 29. His nomination is supported by Indiana Senators Richard Lugar (R) and Evan Bayh (D). Senate Republicans have rejected efforts to reach an agreement to debate and vote on Hamilton’s nomination, and last Tuesday, the Senate Majority Leader filed cloture – a motion to bring debate to an end – on the nomination.    » read more »

March 25, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC - Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key administration posts: Dr. Howard Koh, Assistant Secretary for Health, Department of Health and Human Services; Phyllis C. Borzi, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employee Benefits Security, Department of Labor; Helen R. Kanovsky, General Counsel, Department of Housing and Urban Development; Rhea Suh, Assistant Secretary for Policy Management and Budget, Department of Interior; and Hilary Tompkins, Solicitor, Department of Interior.    » read more »

March 24, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – President Obama today announced his intent to nominate Marisa J. Demeo and Florence Y. Pan to be Associate Judges in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Demeo currently works as a Magistrate Judge in the Criminal Division of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia; Pan currently serves as Deputy Chief of the Appellate Section in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

" I am pleased to put forward two nominees who have served the people of the District of Columbia with such distinction," President Obama said. "Marisa Demeo and Florence Pan have dedicated their careers to serving the public good and they will be esteemed and eminent additions to the DC Superior Court."

Marisa Demeo    » read more »

March 20, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key administration posts: Dr. Steven E. Koonin, Under Secretary for Science, Department of Energy; David Sandalow, Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs, Department of Energy; Ambassador Johnnie Carson, Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, State Department; Kathy Martinez, Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), Department of Labor; Jonathan S. Adelstein, Administrator for the Rural Utilities Service, United States Department of Agriculture; Timothy W. Manning, Deputy Administrator for National Preparedness, FEMA, Department of Homeland Security; and Priscilla E.    » read more »

March 19, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, President Barack Obama announced that Jon Wellinghoff, currently serving as Acting Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), will be designated as Chairman.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, March 13, 2009 - President Barack Obama today announced his intention to nominate James W. (Jim) Miller to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services and Dallas P. Tonsager to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development.

"Jim Miller and Dallas Tonsager are well aware of the challenges and opportunities in rural America. They have dedicated their lives to enhancing the success and improving the lives of farmers, ranchers and those living in rural areas," said Secretary Vilsack.    » read more »

February 23, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. District Judge Samuel B. Kent pleaded guilty today to obstruction of justice in federal court in Houston, Acting Assistant Attorney General Rita M. Glavin and Andrew R. Bland III, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Houston office announced.

Kent, 59, a district judge in the Southern District of Texas, pleaded guilty to making false statements to a special investigative committee of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit during an investigation of a judicial misconduct complaint filed against him. Kent’s guilty plea was accepted by the Hon. Roger Vinson, Senior U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Florida, who was sitting by designation in the Southern District of Texas.    » read more »

AUGUSTA, July 31, 2007 – Judge Rae Ann French of Augusta was sworn in today by Governor John E. Baldacci to the Maine District Court. This is the third reappointment to the court for Judge French.

“Throughout her career, Rae Ann French has proven to be an outstanding judge, member of the Attorney General’s Office and citizen,” Governor Baldacci said. “Judge French is always prepared, attentive and respectful of all those who come before her. It is an honor to be able to swear her in today.”    » read more »

TALLAHASSEE, July 27, 2007 – Florida Governor Charlie Crist today announced the following re-appointment and appointments:

Fourth District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission

Paul O. Lopez, 39, of Boca Raton, attorney with Tripp Scott P.A., re-appointed for a term beginning July 26, 2007, and ending June 30, 2011.

F. Gregory Barnhart, 55, of Palm Beach, attorney with Searcy, Denney, Scarola, Barnhart & Shipley, succeeding Manuel Farach, appointed for a term beginning July 26, 2007, and ending June 30, 2011.    » read more »

FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2007 -- Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter today announced he has appointed Martin A. Gonzales of Alamosa as a District Court judge in the 12th Judicial District, which serves Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Mineral, Rio Grande and Saguache counties.

Gonzales is currently an Alamosa County judge, a position he has held since 2001. Since 2005, he has been a probate magistrate for Alamosa and Rio Grande counties, and since 1997 he also has been a juvenile magistrate in those counties.    » read more »