Schumer Recommends First Openly Gay Male Federal Judge

As the fight to repel "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is currently receiving its deserved growing attention, another boon for equality for the gay community is taking place with the potential news of the first openly gay male judge to serve on the federal court.

Chuck Schumer has recommended to President Obama that one Daniel Atler be that individual to make such history.

In a statement, Schumer said he recommended Alter because he’s “a brilliant attorney who possesses the knowledge, balanced views and temperament required of a federal judge.”

“His outstanding leadership skills, his commitment to justice, and his extensive experience make him an exceptional choice for a position on the federal bench,” Schumer said. “I’m proud to nominate Daniel Alter. Period. But I am equally proud to nominate him because he is a history-maker who will be the first openly gay male judge in American history.”

His resume' alone, gay or straight, is seriously impressive:

A graduate of Columbia College and Yale Law School, Alter clerked for several judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

For six years, Alter was an assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, where he specialized in first amendment matters and became an expert on terrorism issues. He worked on al Qaeda cases and was on the prosecution team for the trials for the African embassy bombings of 1998.

Alter has also been an advocate for civil rights. As national director of the civil rights division of the Anti-Defamation League, Alter handled work on hate crimes both within the United States and abroad.

As the rest of that article from Chris Johnson indicates, Atler is not the first openly LGBT to serve on a federal court. Deborah Batts was nominated by President Clinton in 1994 for the U.S. Southern District of the Federal Court (which she is still there by the way). Johnson also notes that well known story of Prop 8 judge Vaughn Welker being gay, although he has never confirmed it publicly.

The accomplishment to be nominated by President Obama would be obviously terrific news for not only Atler, the gay community, and friends of the gay community, but our entire nation as well.

But there is one big MASSIVE hurdle in the way of Atler being confirmed to that post: The lovable Senate.

And based on its actions, with Craig Becker being the latest today, who knows what it will be with those dysfunctional cast of characters.