Holly A. Thomas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Holly Thomas
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| Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit | |
| Assumed office January 24, 2022 |
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| Appointed by | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | William A. Fletcher |
| Judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court | |
| In office November 29, 2018 – January 24, 2022 |
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| Appointed by | Jerry Brown |
| Preceded by | Robert Dukes |
| Succeeded by | Pamela Dansby |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1979 (age 46–47) San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Stanford University (BA) Yale University (JD) |
Holly Aiyisha Thomas, born in 1979, is an American lawyer who works as a judge. She is a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Before this, she was a judge for the Los Angeles County Superior Court from 2018 to 2022.
Early Life and School
Growing Up in San Diego
Holly Thomas was born in San Diego, California. Her parents did not go to college. Her father worked as a bookkeeper, and her mother was a school custodian.
College and Law School
In 2000, Holly Thomas graduated with honors from Stanford University. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. After college, she worked for a legal program in San Francisco from 2000 to 2001. Then, she went to Yale Law School, a very famous law school. She was an editor for the Yale Law Journal there. She earned her law degree in 2004.
Holly Thomas's Career
Starting as a Law Clerk
After law school, Holly Thomas worked as a law clerk for Judge Kim McLane Wardlaw. This was at the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 2004 to 2005. A law clerk helps a judge with their research and writing.
Working for Civil Rights
From 2005 to 2010, Thomas worked at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. This group helps protect the civil rights of people. She was a Liman Fellow there for part of this time.
Later, from 2010 to 2015, she was a lawyer for the United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. This part of the government works to make sure everyone's civil rights are protected.
Special Counsel in New York
From 2015 to 2016, Holly Thomas was a special counsel to the solicitor general of New York. A solicitor general is a top lawyer for a state. During this time, she worked on legal cases in federal courts. These cases challenged a law in North Carolina. The law said that people could only use public restrooms that matched the gender on their birth certificate.
California State Government Role
From 2016 to 2018, she worked for the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing. She was a deputy director there. This department helps make sure people are treated fairly in jobs and housing.
Becoming a State Judge
In November 2018, California Governor Jerry Brown chose Holly Thomas to be a judge. She became a judge for the Los Angeles County Superior Court. This is a state court that handles many different types of cases. She served as a state judge until January 2022.
Federal Judicial Service
Nomination to the Ninth Circuit
On September 8, 2021, President Joe Biden announced he wanted to nominate Holly Thomas. He chose her to be a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. This is a very important court that hears appeals from lower courts. Her nomination was sent to the Senate on September 20, 2021. She was nominated to take the place of Judge William A. Fletcher.
Confirmation Process
A hearing about her nomination was held on October 20, 2021. This was before the Senate Judiciary Committee. During this hearing, some senators questioned her past work as a civil rights lawyer. On December 2, 2021, the committee voted 11–11 on her nomination. This meant they did not approve her.
However, on December 16, 2021, the United States Senate voted to move her nomination forward. This vote was 50–46. The Senate then voted to end debate on her nomination on December 18, 2021. Finally, on January 20, 2022, the Senate confirmed her nomination. The vote was 48–40. She officially became a judge on January 24, 2022.
Historic Appointment
Holly Thomas made history with her appointment. She became the first Black woman from California to serve on the Ninth Circuit. She is also the second Black woman ever to serve on this court. The first was Judge Johnnie B. Rawlinson.
Supreme Court Consideration
In January 2022, Justice Stephen Breyer announced he would retire from the U.S. Supreme Court. At that time, Holly Thomas was mentioned as one of the people President Joe Biden might choose for the Supreme Court.
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