Rhode Island Senators Suggest Circuit Nominee (will make the 1st Circuit 3-3)

[usregimechange]

Rhode Island's two senators announced Monday they have recommended a state superior court judge as their pick for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

O. Rogeriee Thompson would be the first African American judge to serve on the First Circuit, according to the Providence Journal.

Thompson has already been something of a pioneer during her 21 years as a state judge. She was the first African American woman to serve on both Rhode Island's District and Superior Courts.

"Imagine what it feels like to walk out on that bench as an African-American woman," Thompson told an audience at her alma mater, Brown University, in 1999. "I look to my right and see a white clerk and white sheriffs. I am the only person of color in the entire courtroom -- until they open the cellblock and bring in 14 people in chains and manacles. Thirteen of them are black."

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/legal_beat/2009/04/rhode-island-senators-suggest.html

1st Circuit

[DarthDem]

1. YES!!!!!!!

Taking control of the federal courts back . . . one seat at a time. I love it.

[elleng]

2. and those R.I. Senators are exceptional, imo.

.

[Captain Hilts]

4. They're both GREAT. nt

[Ocracoker16]

3. glad to hear that

That is great that she will be the first African American on the First Circuit as well as the first African American woman on the First Circuit.

[usregimechange]

5. Looking for how old she is, any idea where I could find that?

[DarthDem]

6. 57

. . . sez this article.

http://www.examiner.com/a-1959069~RI_judge_recommended_for_federal_appeals_post.html

[usregimechange]

7. Good, that is young for a federal judge, she can serve for 25 years.