President Barack Obama on Wednesday
nominated Michael Fitzgerald to the U.S. District Court, his fourth
openly gay judicial nominee to date.
The 51-year-old Fitzgerald has been
nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of
California.
“I am honored to nominate Michael
Walter Fitzgerald to the United States District Court,"
President Obama said in a statement. "His impressive career
stands as a testament to his formidable intellect and integrity. I
am confident he will serve the people of California with distinction
on the District Court bench.”
Fitzgerald has been named a partner at
the Los Angeles-based law firm of Corbin, Fitzgerald and Athey LLP
since 1998. He's a graduate of Harvard University and the University
of California at Berkeley's School of Law.
Fitzgerald's nomination follows
Monday's Senate confirmation of Paul
Oetken to the Federal District Court for the Southern District of New
York.
Two additional out judges, Alison
Nathan and Edmund Dumont, have also been nominated by Obama to serve
on federal benches.
In May, Barbara
Lenk became the fist openly gay judge to serve on Massachusetts'
highest court, the Supreme Judicial Court.