Thomas Rice | |
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| Chief Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington | |
| In office January 27, 2016 – July 24, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Rosanna M. Peterson |
| Succeeded by | Stanley Bastian |
| Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington | |
| Assumed office March 8, 2012 | |
| Appointed by | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Robert H. Whaley |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas Owen Rice (1960-12-09)December 9, 1960 (age 64) Spokane, Washington, U.S. |
| Education | Gonzaga University (BBA,JD) |
Thomas Owen Rice (born December 9, 1960) is aUnited States district judge of theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington.
Born inSpokane, Washington, Rice earned aBachelor of Business Administration degree fromGonzaga University in 1983 and aJuris Doctor fromGonzaga University School of Law in 1986.[1][2]
From 1986 until early 1987, Rice worked for theUnited 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 theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington. He was anAssistant 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]
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 JudgeRobert H. Whaley, who assumedsenior status in 2009.[3] He received a hearing before theSenate Judiciary Committee on September 20, 2011. His nomination was reported out of committee on October 13, 2011 byvoice vote.[4] On March 6, 2012, theUnited States Senate confirmed Rice's nomination by a 93–4 vote.[5] 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.[6]
In April 2023, in a lawsuit brought by 17 states and theDistrict of Columbia, Rice issued a temporaryinjunction that theFood and Drug Administration should not reduce access to the abortion medicationmifepristone in these states and the district.[7][8]
Works by or aboutThomas O. Rice atWikisource| Legal offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington 2012–present | Incumbent |
| Preceded by | Chief Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington 2016–2020 | Succeeded by |
