Thomas O. Rice

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For other people named Thomas Rice, see Thomas Rice (disambiguation).
Thomas O. Rice
Judge Thomas Owen Rice.jpg
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
In office
January 27, 2016 – July 24, 2020
Preceded byRosanna M. Peterson
Succeeded byStanley Bastian
Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
Assumed office
March 8, 2012
Appointed byBarack Obama
Preceded byRobert H. Whaley
Personal details
Born (1960-12-09) December 9, 1960 (age 61)
Spokane, Washington
EducationGonzaga University (BBA, JD)

Thomas Owen Rice (born December 9, 1960) is a United States District 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 of Business Administration degree from Gonzaga University in 1983 and a Juris Doctor from Gonzaga University School of Law in 1986.[1][2]

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] From 1987 to 2012, Rice worked in the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Washington. He was an Assistant United States Attorney from 1987 to 2012. 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][2]

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.[3] 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.[4] 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.[2] Rice served as Chief Judge of the court from January 27, 2016 to July 24, 2020.[5]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d The White House: Office of the Press Secretary (June 29, 2011). "President Obama Nominates Two to the United States District Court". whitehouse.gov. Retrieved July 19, 2011 – via National Archives.
  2. ^ a b c "Rice, Thomas Owen – Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.
  3. ^ The White House: Office of the Press Secretary (June 29, 2011). "Presidential Nominations sent to the Senate". whitehouse.gov. Retrieved July 19, 2011 – via National Archives.
  4. ^ "Home – United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary". judiciary.senate.gov.
  5. ^ "Judge Thomas O. Rice". www.waed.uscourts.gov. Retrieved August 17, 2020.

External links[]

Legal offices
Preceded by Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
2012–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
2016–2020 		Succeeded by
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