Sixth Openly-Gay Judge Approved by Senate
May 20, 2013 by Ty Cobb, Director of Global Engagement
The U.S. Senate has confirmed Michael McShane to the Federal District Court in Oregon by voice vote. He is the first openly-gay man to serve as a federal judge in Oregon.
McShane has been an attorney for over 24 years. He attended Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland and after graduation McShane spent many years representing indigent criminal clients as a public defender in the Office of the Portland Metropolitan Public Defender. McShane later went on to become a judge pro tempore and then a Multnomah County Circuit Court judge.
McShane is the sixth openly-gay individual to be confirmed to a federal judgeship with lifetime tenure, five of whom were nominated by President Barack Obama. The other was nominated by President Bill Clinton. Three other openly-gay nominees are currently pending in the Senate. One of which, if confirmed, would be the first openly-gay federal appellate court judge.
We congratulate Mr. McShane on a much deserved achievement and thank the White House and Senate for their continued commitment to nominating and confirming well-qualified, diverse judicial nominees.
