Openly Gay Man Nominated For Federal Judgeship

United States Senator of New York Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is making news today with the announcement that he is recommending the first openly gay man for a federal judgeship: Daniel Alter.

From the press release from the Senator's office:

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that he is recommending Daniel Alter to President Obama to serve as a judge in the Southern District federal court. Mr. Alter is a history-making pick, as he is the first openly gay male nominated for the federal court in American history. Schumer laid out several reasons Alter would make an excellent fit for the job. Schumer said that Alter’s stellar legal background, close ties to New York, even-handedness, temperament and demonstrated leadership skills would make him an excellent choice for the Southern District Court. Schumer also said that he is highly capable and very qualified for the position.

“Daniel Alter couldn’t be a more perfect choice. He is a brilliant attorney who possesses the knowledge, balanced views and temperament required of a federal judge,” Schumer said. “His outstanding leadership skills, his commitment to justice, and his extensive experience make him an exceptional choice for a position on the federal bench. I’m proud to nominate Daniel Alter. Period. But I am equally proud to nominate him because he is a history-maker who will be the first openly gay male judge in American history.”

Alter is a graduate of Columbia College and Yale Law School. As a young lawyer, Mr. Alter clerked for the Hon. John M. Walker and the Hon. Guido Calabresi, who both served on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

The sexual orientation of federal judges has been in the news recently with the San Francisco Chronicle reporting over the weekend that U.S. District Court judge Vaughn Walker, who just happens to be conducting the most important gay rights case (on the federal constitutionality of California's Proposition 8) of the decade (century?) is openly gay.

There are currently 875 federal judges under Article III of the United States Constitution and exactly two are known to be openly gay or lesbian: Vaughn Walker and Deborah Batts (who is also Black).

Human Rights Campaign Joe Solmonese released a statement:

“Daniel Alter is eminently qualified for a position on the federal bench. America is taking a step forward towards equality by evaluating an individual based on his accomplishments and without regard to his sexual orientation. We commend Senator Schumer for his historic recommendation, and look forward to the President’s nomination.”

Federal judgeships are lifetime appointments and have been a flashpoint with Republicans in the past. It should be interesting to see how long it takes the Alter nomination to get through the Senate, and how long it takes the Obama administration to formally initiate the process.

I'm also curious if this will encourage any other federal judges to come out. After all, 2 out of 875 federal judges being gay or lesbian is a statistically unlikely number.