WASHINGTON(January 11, 2023)—According to The Providence Journal, Biden nominated first person of color to U.S. District Court for Rhode Island. District Court Judge Melissa R. Dubose was nominated on Wednesday to replace Judge William E. Smith. Smith announced in June 2023 that we will resume senior status starting Jan 1, 2025. In addition to DuBose being the first person of color, they would also serve as the first openly LGBTW judge of Rhode Island.
For more context on the matter, please consider John P. Collins Jr., Associate Professor of Fundamentals of Lawyering. Collins is an expert on judicial nominations, court administration and reform. He has previously been quoted on the historical lack of diversity on many federal courts. More recently, he has focused on the Biden administration’s path forward filling as many vacancies as possible this year.
If you wish to speak to Professor Collins, please contact Media Relations Specialist Shannon Mitchell at [email protected].
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