PROVIDENCE – Melissa R. DuBose was sworn in Friday as the 25th U.S. District Court judge for the District of Rhode Island, making history as the first woman of color and first LGBTQ+ person on the court.
Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. presided over the private swearing in ceremony attended by Judge DuBose’s family and court staff.
President Joseph Biden nominated DuBose on Jan. 19, 2023, for the seat being vacated by Judge William E. Smith, who assumed senior status Jan. 1. The U.S. Senate confirmed the historic nomination March 12, 2024. DuBose received her commission to perform judicial duties Thursday.
U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse credited DuBose as “a lifelong Rhode Islander, who is exceedingly well regarded in our community” in urging his colleagues’ support.
“She’s proven to be an exceptional jurist, with a stellar record,” Sen. Jack Reed said on the Senate floor. He noted that DuBose’s fellow judges on the bench hailed her as “supremely qualified” with impeccable ethics.
Teacher-turned-lawyer
DuBose earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Providence College in 1990 and her juris doctor from Roger Williams University School of Law in 2004. Prior to that, she had spent 14 years as a teacher in Providence Public Schools.
After earning her law degree, she later served as special assistant attorney general in the state Attorney General’s Office from 2005 to 2008. She worked as senior legal counsel for Schneider Electric from 2008 to 2019.
Then-Governor Gina Raimondo nominated DuBose to District Court, the state’s busiest court, in 2018 – a capacity DuBose served in until her federal appointment.
“It is my great honor to welcome Judge DuBose to the federal bench,” McConnell said in a new release announcing the swearing in. “Her extensive experience, dedication to justice, and commitment to fairness will be invaluable to our court and the legal community. I look forward to working alongside her as she brings her thoughtful perspective and unwavering integrity to this new role.”
DuBose is married with two sons.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Melissa DuBose sworn in as U.S. District Court judge