Senate Confirms Two Judges, Who Are Gay, Black, To Federal Bench

Historic Day For Diversity: Senate Confirms Two Judges, Who Are Gay, Black, To Federal Bench

For the first time in history, the U.S. Senate today confirmed two judges who happen to be openly-gay, and Black, to the federal bench. Judge Darrin Gayles will serve on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, and Judge Staci Yandle will serve on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. Lambda Legal, applauding the votes, noted this is “the first time that two openly gay judicial nominees have been confirmed to the federal bench on the same day.”

The White House notes that also confirmed today is Judge Salvador Mendoza, who will serve on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington. He is the first Hispanic judge to serve on his court.

“Today, it is more important than ever that our courts reflect the growing diversity of our country, but we have a long way to go,” Lambda Legal’s Fair Courts Project Manager Eric Lesh said in a statement.

“There are nearly 900 federal judges in the U.S., and most are white men. Federal courts are charged with providing everyone with equal access to justice, and yet justice has not always been a reality for some. A diverse judiciary serves not only to improve the quality of justice, but to boost public confidence in the courts.”

“President Obama has already nominated more African-American judges and openly gay and lesbian judges than any of his predecessors. With this historic confirmation, Darrin Gayles will become the nation’s first openly gay African-American man to serve on the federal bench, while Staci Yandle becomes the second openly lesbian African-American woman to be confirmed in the 20 years since President Clinton nominated Deborah Batts to the Southern District of New York.”

The Miami Herald reports that Judge Gayles is “the first openly gay black male jurist to sit on the bench.”

Judge Gayles is a graduate of George Washington University School of Law, and Judge Yandle is a graduate of Vanderbilt University School of Law.

Last fall, the Tea Party Senator Marco Rubio, Republican of Florida, killed the nominationof Judge William Thomas, after supporting his nomination. Judge Gayles was nominated in his place.

Source: http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/