Thomas O. Rice
| Thomas Rice | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington | |
|
Assumed office January 27, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Rosanna M. Peterson |
| Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington | |
|
Assumed office March 8, 2012 | |
| Appointed by | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Robert Whaley |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
1960 (age 55–56) Spokane, Washington, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Gonzaga University |
Thomas Owen Rice (born 1960) is Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington.
Early life and education
Born in Spokane, Washington, Rice earned a bachelor's degree from Gonzaga University in 1983 and a law degree from Gonzaga University School of Law in 1986.[1]
Professional career
From 1986 until early 1987, Rice worked for the United States Department of Justice as a trial attorney in Washington in the department's tax division.[1]
Since 1987, Rice has worked in the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Washington. He has been an Assistant United States Attorney since 1987. He served as the deputy criminal chief for his prosecutor's office from 2000 until 2003, and then was the criminal chief from 2003 until 2006.[1] From 2006 until his appointment to the bench, he was a First Assistant United States Attorney.[1]
Federal judicial service
On June 29, 2011, President Obama nominated Rice to the seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington that had been vacated by Judge Robert H. Whaley, who took senior status in 2009.[2] He received a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 20, 2011, and his nomination was reported to the floor of the Senate by voice vote on October 13, 2011.[3]
On March 6, 2012, the United States Senate confirmed Rice's nomination in a 93–4 vote. He received his commission on March 8, 2012.[4]
Rice became Chief Judge of the district court on January 27, 2016.[5]
References
- 1 2 3 4 The White House: Office of the Press Secretary (June 29, 2011). "President Obama Nominates Two to the United States District Court". whitehouse.gov. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
- ↑ The White House: Office of the Press Secretary (June 29, 2011). "Presidential Nominations sent to the Senate". whitehouse.gov. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
- ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee
- ↑ Biographical Directory of Federal Judges
- ↑ Change in Chief Judge - January 27, 2016, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, December 3, 2015
External links
- Thomas O. Rice at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Rosanna M. Peterson |
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington 2016–present |
Incumbent |
| Preceded by Robert Whaley |
Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington 2012–present | |