William Thomas (Florida)
This page is about the Florida judge for the Eleventh Circuit Court. If you are looking for the U.S. District judge for the Northern District of Ohio, please see William K. Thomas.
William Thomas is a judge of the Florida 11th Circuit Court. He assumed office in 2005. His current term ends on January 2, 2029.
Thomas won re-election for judge of the Florida 11th Circuit Court outright in the general election on November 8, 2022, after the primary and general election were canceled.
On November 15, 2012, Thomas was nominated by President Barack Obama (D) to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Thomas' nomination was withdrawn on January 6, 2014, after it was not resubmitted by President Obama. Senator Marco Rubio (R) prevented Thomas from being confirmed by withdrawing his support.[1]
Early life and education
Thomas received his B.A. from Washington and Jefferson College in 1991 and his J.D. from Temple University in 1994.[2]
Professional career
Thomas began his career in 1994 as a State Public Defender. In 1997, he became a Federal Public Defender in Miami-Dade County. He served in that capacity until he joined the circuit court in 2005.[2]
Elections
2022
See also: Municipal elections in Miami-Dade County, Florida (2022)
General election
The general election was canceled. William Thomas (Nonpartisan) won without appearing on the ballot.
2016
Florida's 20 circuit courts all had seats up for election in 2016. Of the 151 seats up for election, 125 saw only one candidate file for the election. The unopposed races were canceled and the sole candidates were automatically elected. Of the 26 opposed races, only 10 saw more than two candidates file. [3]
| Florida 11th Circuit Court, Group 40 Primary Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | ||
 William Thomas Incumbent | ||
| Source: Florida Department of State Division of Elections, "August 30, 2016 Primary Election," accessed December 19, 2016 | ||
2010
- Main article: Florida judicial elections, 2010
Thomas ran unopposed and was automatically retained to a new term.[4][5]
Federal judicial nomination
 |
| Nominee Information |
| Name: William Thomas |
| Court: Southern District of Florida |
| Progress |
| Returned 414 days after nomination. |
 Nominated: November 15, 2012
|
| ABA Rating: Majority Well Qualified, Minority Qualified
|
| Questionnaire: Questionnaire |
 Hearing:
|
| QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
| Reported:
|
| Confirmed:
|
| Returned: January 3, 2014
|
Thomas was nominated on November 15, 2012, by Barack Obama to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida vacated by Adalberto Jordan.[1] Obama commented on the nomination, stating "These individuals have demonstrated the talent, expertise, and fair-mindedness Americans expect and deserve from their judicial system. They also represent my continued commitment to ensure that the judiciary resembles the nation it serves. I am grateful for their willingness to serve and confident that they will apply the law with the utmost impartiality and integrity. Too many of our courtrooms stand empty. I hope the Senate will promptly consider all of my nominees and ensure justice for everyday Americans."[6] The nomination made headlines because Thomas was an openly gay Black judge.[7]
Thomas was rated Majority Well Qualified, Minority Qualified by the American Bar Association. You can find his Committee Questionnaire available here.[8]
Support withdrawn
In September 2013, Senator Marco Rubio (R) withdrew his support of Thomas as a nominee for the Southern District of Florida. His spokesperson said that Rubio's "concerns include[d] questions about his judicial temperament and his willingness to impose appropriate criminal sentences."[9]
Rubio's opposition prevented the nomination from moving forward, since nominees must have the approval of both senators in the district to receive a hearing. Senator Bill Nelson, a Democrat, approved the nomination in July 2013.[9]
If he had been confirmed, Thomas would have been the first openly gay Black man to sit on a federal court.[9]
End of nomination process
On January 6, 2014, President Barack Obama resubmitted his nominees for the United States federal courts, without including Thomas. After Marco Rubio announced that he wouldn't turn in his blue slip, which would have been needed to move Thomas' nomination forward, the President chose to let the nomination expire.[10]
See also
2022 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate" 11/14/2012
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedbio - ↑ Florida Department of State, "Candidate Listing for 2016 General Election," accessed July 5, 2016
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedcandidates - ↑ Miami Herald, "14 incumbent judges, one newcomer elected automatically," May 4, 2010 (dead link)
- ↑ "President Obama Nominates Seven to the United States District Courts" 11/14/2012
- ↑ Washington Blade, "Obama names gay black judge to Fla. court," November 14, 2012
- ↑ 113th Congress Nomination Materials
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 The New York Times, "Rubio Withdraws Support for Gay Black Judge's Nomination to the Federal Bench," September 23, 2013
- ↑ Miami New Times, "Marco Rubio Officially Killed All Hope of First Openly Gay, Black Federal Judge," January 7, 2014
Federal courts:
Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida
State courts:
Florida Supreme Court • Florida District Courts of Appeal • Florida Circuit Court • Florida County Court
State resources:
Courts in Florida • Florida judicial elections • Judicial selection in Florida
