New York Senator Charles E. Schumer
announced Tuesday that he is recommending a gay man for the federal
bench.
Schumer has recommended Daniel Alter to
President Obama to serve as a judge in New York's Southern District
federal court. If approved, Alter would be the first openly gay man
to serve on the federal bench.
“Daniel Alter couldn't be a more
perfect choice,” Senator Schumer said in a statement. “He is a
brilliant attorney who possesses the knowledge, balanced views and
temperament required of a federal judge.”
“His outstanding leadership skills,
his commitment to justice, and his extensive experience make him an
exceptional choice for a position on the federal bench.”
“I'm proud to nominate Daniel Alter.
Period. But I am equally proud to nominate him because he is a
history-maker who will be the first gay male judge in American
history,” Schumer added.
The nomination keeps the Obama
administration on track to setting a new record on appointing openly
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender officials.
“Obama has appointed about 100 openly
LGBT staff to the executive branch in his first year in office,”
Denis Dison, vice president of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, a
group that promotes openly gay elected officials, said in an email.
“[President] Clinton appointed about 140 over 8 years.”
“Obama is certainly on track to set a
record in this regard,” he added.
Alter, who has clerked for several
federal judges, is a graduate of Columbia College and Yale Law
School.