Thomas O. Rice

Thomas Rice
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
Assumed office
January 27, 2016
Preceded by Rosanna M. Peterson
Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
Assumed office
March 8, 2012
Appointed by Barack Obama
Preceded by Robert Whaley
Personal details
Born 1960 (age 5556)
Spokane, Washington, U.S.
Alma mater Gonzaga University

Thomas Owen Rice (born 1960) is Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington.

Early life and education

Born in Spokane, Washington, Rice earned a bachelor's degree from Gonzaga University in 1983 and a law degree from Gonzaga University School of Law in 1986.[1]

Professional career

From 1986 until early 1987, Rice worked for the United States Department of Justice as a trial attorney in Washington in the department's tax division.[1]

Since 1987, Rice has worked in the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Washington. He has been an Assistant United States Attorney since 1987. He served as the deputy criminal chief for his prosecutor's office from 2000 until 2003, and then was the criminal chief from 2003 until 2006.[1] From 2006 until his appointment to the bench, he was a First Assistant United States Attorney.[1]

Federal judicial service

On June 29, 2011, President Obama nominated Rice to the seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington that had been vacated by Judge Robert H. Whaley, who took senior status in 2009.[2] He received a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 20, 2011, and his nomination was reported to the floor of the Senate by voice vote on October 13, 2011.[3]

On March 6, 2012, the United States Senate confirmed Rice's nomination in a 93–4 vote. He received his commission on March 8, 2012.[4]

Rice became Chief Judge of the district court on January 27, 2016.[5]

References

Legal offices
Preceded by
Rosanna M. Peterson
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
2016–present
Incumbent
Preceded by
Robert Whaley
Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
2012–present
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