O. Rogeriee Thompson

From Judgepedia

Ojetta Rogeriee Thompson (born August 8, 1951) is a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. She was nominated to the court by President Obama in 2009 and confirmed to the court on March 17, 2010.

Federal circuit court nomination

Thompson was nominated for a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit by President Obama on October 6, 2009. ^[1] She was recommended to the President by Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse who called her "highly qualified". ^[2]

The Senate confirmed Thompson 98 - 0 on March 17, 2010. ^[3][4]

Thompson is the first black and the second female judge to serve the First District. ^[5] She fills the seat vacated by Bruce Marshall Selya which is traditionally held by a Rhode Islander. ^[6]

The rating the Thompson received from the American Bar Association was only "satisfactory". ^[7]

Judiciary Committee hearing

Thompson's Public Questionnaire Available Here

Questions for the Record Available Here

A hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee occurred on December 1, 2009. ^[8] The only committee members in attendance for her hearing were Al Franken and Sheldon Whitehouse; none of the Republican members of the committee were present, suggesting that she is a non-controversial nominee. ^[9]

On January 21, 2010, the Committee voted to move Thompson's nomination to a vote before the full Senate. ^[10][11]

Early life and education

Judge Thompson was born and raised in Anderson, South Carolina. She is the descendant of a plantation owner (her great-grandfather) who bought her great-grandmother at a slave auction. The two later raised a family together. ^[5]

She received an A.B. in 1973 from Brown University, and a J.D. in 1976 from Boston University School of Law. ^[1] Thompson also holds honorary degrees from the University of Rhode Island and Bryant College. ^[12]

Legal career

From the White House press release regarding Thompson's nomination:

"Judge Thompson began her legal career as a staff attorney at Rhode Island Legal Services as a Reginald Haber Smith Fellow. She was ultimately promoted to Senior Staff Attorney and Family Law Unit Manager, where she served as chief litigation counsel for all major domestic and juvenile trials. After three years at Legal Services, Judge Thompson entered private practice, working at a small firm and then as a solo practitioner before forming a partnership with her sister at the firm of Thompson & Thompson. There she focused on Native American law, civil rights, family law and real estate. While in private practice, Judge Thompson conducted trainings throughout the country for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. She also served as Assistant City Solicitor, where she defended the City of Providence in civil actions and prosecuted criminal cases." ^[1]

Judicial career

Prior to taking her seat on the First Circuit Thompson was a judge for the Superior Court of Rhode Island.^[13]

From the White House press release regarding Thompson's nomination:

"In 1988, Judge Thompson became the first African-American woman to be nominated to the Rhode Island District Court where she presided over state law criminal misdemeanors, civil actions with damages up to $10,000, and tax appeals. In 1997, she was elevated to the Rhode Island Superior Court, where she currently serves. She was the first African-American woman on that court. As an Associate Justice of the Rhode Island Superior Court, Judge Thompson has original jurisdiction over all felony cases and civil actions, including those sounding in equity." ^[1]

Awards and achievements

From the White House press release regarding Thompson's nomination:

"While on the bench, Judge Thompson chaired the Court’s Ad Hoc Task Force on Limited English Speaking Litigants, which was instrumental in the Superior Court establishing an Office of Court Interpreters to ensure that all limited English-speaking litigants have a fuller understanding of judicial proceedings. Judge Thompson is active in a wide variety of community and educational organizations. She is a Trustee of Brown University and of Bryant College." ^[1]

Thompson received the "Women of Excellence Award" in 2006 from the Women's Center of Rhode Island.^[14]

Thompson is an inductee of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Hall of Fame of Providence for 2010. ^[15]

Personal

Thompson is married to Rhode Island District Court judge William C. Clifton; they have two daughters. ^[9]

External links

• First Circuit website

References

	v • d • e Federal judges who have served the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
Active judges	Chief Judge: Lynch • Boudin • Howard • Lipez • Thompson • Torruella
Senior judges	Campbell • Cyr • Selya • Stahl
Former judges	Aldrich • Anderson • Bingham • Bownes • Breyer • Colt • Dodge • Hartigan • Johnson • Lowell • Magruder • Mahoney • McEntee • Morton • Putnam • Schofield • Souter • Wilson • Woodbury

	v • d • e Federal judges nominated by Barack Obama
2009	Berger • Black • Butler • Chen • Childs • Chin • Conley • Davis • Diaz • Freudenthal • Gee • Gergel • Greenaway • Hamilton • Honeywell • Jackson • Kallon • Keenan • Lange • Lynch • Marshall • Martin • Navarro • Nguyen • Pearson • Peterson • Reiss • Seeborg • Sotomayor • Stranch • Thompson • Vanaskie • Viken • Wynn
2010	Chatigny • Coleman • DeGuilio • Eagles • Feinerman • Fleissig • Foote • Goldsmith • Koh • Liu • Lohier • Magnus-Stinson • Martinez • McConnell • Mueller • O'Malley • Pratt • Matheson • Stark • Totenberg • Treadwell • Tucker