Obama Nominates Latina Lesbian To Federal Bench

Following his historical nomination of a Black gay man to become a federal judge a few weeks ago, President Obama is continuing his practice of diversifying the federal judiciary by nominating the first openly lesbian Latina to become a U.S. District Court judge. Nitza Quiñones has been nominated to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The state has 8 vacant slots in the federal judiciary, notes People for the American Way in lauding the Quiñones nomination.

Here is the official announcement from the White House:

Judge Nitza I. Quiñones Alejandro:  Nominee for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of PennsylvaniaJudge Nitza I. Quiñones Alejandro currently serves as a Judge on the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, where she has presided over both civil and criminal matters.  Prior to joining the bench in 1991, Judge Quiñones worked as a Staff Attorney for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs from 1979 to 1991 and as an Attorney Advisor for the United States Department of Health and Human Services from 1977 to 1979.  She began her legal career as a Staff Attorney for Community Legal Services, Inc. in Philadelphia from 1975 to 1977.  Judge Quiñones received her J.D. in 1975 from the University of Puerto Rico School of Law and her B.B.A. cum laude in 1972 from the University of Puerto Rico.

¡Si, se puede!