First black, openly gay man confirmed as U.S. federal judge
| Miami
The聽United States' first black, openly聽gay聽male judge was appointed to the federal bench on Tuesday in a unanimous confirmation decision by the U.S.聽Senate.
Darrin P. Gayles, appointed to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of聽Florida, one of the nation's busiest federal benches, has served as a聽Miami-Dade Circuit Court聽judge since 2011. He was born inPeoria,聽Illinois聽in 1966 and earned a law degree from the聽George Washington University Law School.
The聽Senate聽also confirmed Judge聽Staci Michelle Yandle, an openly聽gay聽African-American woman, to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of聽Illinois. She is the federal bench's second openly lesbian black woman.
President聽Barack Obama聽nominated Gayles for the position in February, after a previous openly聽gayblack nominee from Miami was not confirmed to the federal bench last year.
Miami-Dade Circuit Court聽Judge聽William L. Thomas聽was blocked by聽Florida聽Senator聽Marco Rubio, a conservative Republican. A spokeswoman for Rubio said he withdrew his support due to concerns over sentencing in a murder and drunk driving case. (Editing by Letitia Stein, David Adams and Andrew Hay)
