President Barack Obama on Thursday
nominated two federal judges, including Todd M. Hughes, an openly gay
judge.
Obama nominated Hughes to serve on the
United States Federal Circuit Court of Appeals.
If approved, Hughes would be the first
openly gay judge to serve on the court, which hears a limited docket
of cases.
“If confirmed, Todd Hughes would
become the first openly gay federal appeals court judge in U.S.
history,” Chuck Wolfe, president of the Gay & Lesbian Victory
Fund, whose Presidential Appointments Projects supports LGBT
presidential appointments, said in a statement. “His nomination is
a testament to the expanding opportunities for openly LGBT Americans
who want to serve their country, and to the president's respect for
the depth of talent and experience within the LGBT community. We
look forward to his confirmation by the U.S. Senate.”
According to a White House biography,
Hughes currently serves as the deputy director of the Commercial
Litigation Branch of the Civil Division at the United States
Department of Justice. He received his J.D. with honors in 1992 from
Duke University and his B.A. in 1989 from Harvard College.