| Tanya Walton Pratt | |
|---|---|
| Judge on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 2010 |
|
| Nominated by | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | David F. Hamilton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1959 Indianapolis |
| Alma mater | Spelman College Howard University School of Law |
Tanya Marie Walton Pratt (born 1959) is a United States district judge on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.
Contents |
Born in Indianapolis, Pratt graduated from Cathedral High School, then went on to earn a bachelor's degree from Spelman College and a law degree from Howard University School of Law in 1984.[1]
From 1984 until 1992, Pratt worked as an associate attorney for the Moss & Walton law firm in Indianapolis. From 1992 until 1996, Pratt was with the same firm with the title of attorney.
In 1997, Pratt became a judge in Marion County, Indiana, working in the Criminal Division and presiding over major felony matters from 1997 until 2008. She was assigned to Marion County's probate court in 2009, and served there from 2009 until 2010.[1]
In March 2009, Pratt expressed her interest in a federal judgeship to the staff of Indiana Senator Evan Bayh. After interviewing with representatives from the United States Department of Justice and the Office of the White House Counsel, Pratt was nominated by President Obama to the judgeship on January 20, 2010.
The Senate confirmed Pratt in a 95-0 vote on June 15, 2010. Pratt filled the vacancy that was created by Judge David F. Hamilton, whom Obama elevated to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.[2] Pratt is the first African American federal judge in Indiana's history.[3]