Thomas O. Rice

Thomas Owen 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 H. Whaley
Personal details
Born Thomas Owen Rice
(1960-12-09) December 9, 1960
Spokane, Washington
Political party Republican[1]
Education Gonzaga University (B.B.A., J.D.)

Thomas Owen Rice (born December 9, 1960)[1] is the Chief United States District 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 of Business Administration degree from Gonzaga University in 1983 and a Juris Doctor from Gonzaga University School of Law in 1986.[2][3]

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.[2] From 1987 to 2012, Rice worked in the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Washington. He has been an Assistant United States Attorney from 1987 to 2012. 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.[2] From 2006 until his appointment to the bench, he was a First Assistant United States Attorney.[2][3]

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.[4] 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.[5] 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.[3] Rice became Chief Judge of the district court on January 27, 2016.[6][3]

References

  1. 1 2 MyLife.com profile
  2. 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.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Rice, Thomas Owen - Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.
  4. ↑ The White House: Office of the Press Secretary (June 29, 2011). "Presidential Nominations sent to the Senate". whitehouse.gov. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Home - United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary". judiciary.senate.gov.
  6. ↑ "Change in Chief Judge - January 27, 2016 - Eastern District of Washington". www.waed.uscourts.gov.
Legal offices
Preceded by
Robert H. Whaley		 Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
2012–present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
Rosanna M. Peterson		 Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
2016–present
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