Robert L. Pitman

Robert L. Pitman
United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas
Incumbent
Assumed office
October 3, 2011
Appointed by Barack Obama
Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
In office
2003–2011
Personal details
Born 1962
Fort Worth, Texas
Alma mater Abilene Christian University (B.S.)
University of Texas School of Law (J.D.)

Robert Lee Pitman is an American lawyer who serves as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas. He was previously a magistrate judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas.

Contents

Early life and education

Pitman was born in Fort Worth, Texas in 1962.[1] He graduated from Abilene Christian University, where he was student body president.[2] Pitman then obtained a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law.[2] After completing law school, Pitman served as a law clerk for Judge David Belew Jr. of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas.[2]

Career

In 2001, Pitman briefly served as interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas.[2] He was replaced by George W. Bush appointee Johnny Sutton, who then made Pitman his chief deputy.[2]

In October 2003, Pitman was selected to serve as a magistrate judge for the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas.[2]

In 2009, Republican Senators John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchinson sent Pitman's name to Democratic President Barack Obama as one of two candidates for United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas.[3][4] The recommendation of Pitman, who is openly gay, was publicly opposed by some social conservative groups in Texas.[3][4] On June 27, 2011, almost two years after being recommended for the post, Obama notified members of congress that he would nominate Pitman to be United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas.[5] He was formally nominated the following day.[6]

The United States Senate confirmed Pitman to be a federal prosecutor on September 26, 2011 and he took office on October 3, 2011.[7] Pitman is the first openly gay United States Attorney in Texas.[8] He is one of four openly LGBT U.S. Attorneys, alongside Jenny Durkan of the Western District of Washington, Laura Duffy of the Southern District of California and Anne Tompkins of the Western District of North Carolina.[9]

References

  1. ^ Knight, Samuel (September 13, 2011). "Meet Robert Pitman". Main Justice. http://www.mainjustice.com/2011/09/13/meet-robert-pitman/. Retrieved September 29, 2011. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f Kreytak, Steven (December 1, 2003). "Behind the bench, a man to be counted on: New judge won praise for fairness, kindness in 13 years as U.S. prosecutor". Austin American-Statesman. http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/archive/120103_pitman.html. Retrieved September 29, 2011. 
  3. ^ a b Ramonas, Andrew (November 2, 2009). "Texas GOP Senators Advanced Gay U.S. Attorney Candidate". Main Justice. http://www.mainjustice.com/2009/11/02/texas-republican-senators-advanced-gay-u-s-attorney-candidate/. Retrieved September 29, 2011. 
  4. ^ a b Gilman, Todd J. (November 1, 2009). "Hutchison irks right by including gay judge as U.S. attorney pick". The Dallas Morning News. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/washington/columnists/tgillman/stories/DN-texwatch_01nat.ART.State.Edition1.4f62253.html. Retrieved October 10, 2010. 
  5. ^ Martin, Gary (June 27, 2011). "Austin magistrate judge to get U.S. attorney nod". San Antonio Express-News. http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Austin-magistrate-judge-to-get-U-S-attorney-nod-1442668.php. Retrieved September 29, 2011. 
  6. ^ The White House: Office of the Press Secretary (June 28, 2011). "President Obama Nominates Four to Serve as United States Attorneys". whitehouse.gov. http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/06/28/president-obama-nominates-four-serve-united-states-attorneys. Retrieved September 29, 2011. 
  7. ^ http://www.senate.gov/galleries/pdcl/index.htm
  8. ^ Wright, John (June 28, 2011). "What’s Brewing: President Obama to nominate openly gay man for U.S. attorney in Texas". Dallas Voice. http://www.dallasvoice.com/brewing-obama-nominate-gay-man-u-s-attorny-texas-1081471.html. Retrieved September 29, 2011. 
  9. ^ Song, Kyung M. (June 21, 2010). "Coming out helps lessen others' fears, says U.S. Attorney Durkan". Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012175123_durkan22m.html. Retrieved September 29, 2011. 

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