As he continues to move at an historic pace with respect to judicial nominees, the President is announcing three new candidates for the federal bench and one new nominee to the D.C. Court of Appeals, all of whom are extraordinarily qualified, experienced, and devoted to the rule of law and our Constitution.
These choices also continue to fulfill the President's promise to ensure that the nation's courts reflect the diversity that is one of our greatest assets as a country - both in terms of personal and professional backgrounds.
For example, this slate includes:
- A woman currently serving as Vermont's first openly LGBT Supreme Court justice, who would also be the first openly LGBT woman to serve on any federal circuit court.
- A woman who would be the first openly LGBT federal judge in Colorado and the first openly LGBT woman to serve as a federal district court judge in any state west of the Mississippi.
This is President Biden's sixth round of names for federal judicial positions, bringing the number of announced federal judicial nominees to 35.
President Biden has spent decades committed to strengthening the federal bench, which is why he continues to move at an unparalleled speed with respect to judicial nominations. His first judicial nominations announcement was made faster than that of any new President in modern American history, and today's announcement continues that trend.
CIRCUIT COURT
Justice Beth Robinson: Nominee for the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Justice Beth Robinson has served as an Associate Justice on the Vermont Supreme Court since 2011. Prior to her appointment, Justice Robinson served as counsel to Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin from 2010 to 2011. From 1993 to 2010, Justice Robinson was a civil litigator in private practice at Langrock Sperry & Wool where she focused on civil litigation including employment law, workers' compensation, contract disputes, and family law. She also represented LGBTQ+ individuals in civil and civil rights cases, including leading the freedom to marry movement in Vermont. From 1990 to 1991, Justice Robinson was an associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in Washington, D.C., focusing on white-collar criminal defense. Justice Robinson served as a law clerk for Judge David B. Sentelle on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia from 1989 to 1990.
Justice Robinson received her J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School in 1989 and her B.A. from Dartmouth College in 1986.
DISTRICT COURTS
Judge Mary Katherine Dimke: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
Judge Mary Katherine Dimke has served as a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of Washington since 2016. Prior to becoming a judge, she was an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington from 2012 to 2016 and for the Western District of Washington from 2008 to 2012. Judge Dimke joined the U.S. Department of Justice through its Honors Program in 2004 where she served as an attorney in the Fraud Section of the Criminal Division in Washington, D.C. until 2007. Judge Dimke served as a law clerk for Judge Richard C. Tallman on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Seattle, Washington from 2003 to 2004. She also served as a law clerk for Judge Alan B. Johnson on the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming in Cheyenne from 2002 to 2003.
Judge Dimke received her J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School in 2002 as a member of the Order of the Coif and her B.A., magna cum laude, from Pepperdine University in 1999.
Charlotte Sweeney: Nominee for the United States District Court for the District of Colorado
Charlotte Sweeney is currently a partner at Sweeney & Bechtold, LLC, where she has practiced since 2008. Her law practice is devoted to representing individuals in employment law cases. Ms. Sweeney was previously a partner with LaFond & Sweeney, LLC from 1999 to 2008 and LaFond & Bove, LLC from 1997 from 1999. Ms. Sweeney began her career as an associate with LaFond & Clausen, LLC in 1995 and was named a partner at the firm in 1998.
Ms. Sweeney received her J.D. from the University of Denver College of Law in 1995 and her B.S. from California Lutheran University in 1991.
D.C. COURT OF APPEALS
John P. Howard III: Nominee for the District of Columbia Court of Appeals
Judge John P. Howard III currently serves as an Administrative Law Judge with the District of Columbia Office of Administrative Hearings. Prior to his appointment to the bench in 2018, Judge Howard served as an Administrative Law Judge with the District of Columbia Commission on Human Rights from 2014 to 2018, where he adjudicated discrimination claims in the areas of employment, housing, education, and public accommodations. From 2012 to 2014, Judge Howard practiced law as a solo practitioner and with a small firm, where he focused on civil litigation and family law. Judge Howard was previously an associate in the D.C. office of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld LLP from 2011 to 2012. Judge Howard served as a law clerk for Judge Alexander Williams, Jr. on the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, and for the Honorable David C. Simmons of the D.C. Commission on Human Rights in 2010.
Judge Howard received his J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center in 2010 and his B.A. from Howard University in 2006.
