President Obama Nominates Three to the United States District Court

WASHINGTON, DC – President Obama announced today that he has nominated Judge Andrew L. Carter, Jr., James Rodney Gilstrap and Judge Gina Marie Groh.  Carter is a nominee for the Southern District of New York, Gilstrap for the Eastern District of Texas and Groh for the Northern District of West Virginia.

“Throughout their careers, these nominees have displayed unwavering commitment to justice and integrity,” said President Obama.  “Their records of public service are distinguished and impressive and I am confident that they will serve the American people well from the United States District Court bench.  I am honored to nominate them today.”

Judge Andrew L. Carter, Jr.:  Nominee for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
Judge Andrew L. Carter, Jr. is a United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of New York, a position he has held since 2009.  From 2005 until his appointment to the bench, Judge Carter worked for the Federal Defenders of New York, first as a staff attorney and then as a supervising attorney.  From 1996 until 2005, he was an attorney at the Legal Aid Society, working in the Federal Defender Division from 2000 to 2005 and in the Criminal Defense Division from 1996 to 2000.  Judge Carter was a program assistant at the Ford Foundation from 1994 to 1996.  He received his J.D. in 1994 from Harvard Law School and his B.A. in 1991 from the University of Texas at Austin.

James Rodney Gilstrap:  Nominee for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
James Rodney Gilstrap has been a partner at the law firm of Smith & Gilstrap in Marshall, Texas, since 1984, where his practice is broad and covers a wide range of issues, including oil and gas, real estate, and probate law.  From 1989 until 2002, Gilstrap also served as County Judge in Harrison County, Texas.  Prior to founding Smith & Gilstrap, Gilstrap was an associate at the law firm of Abney, Baldwin & Searcy from 1981 to 1984.  Gilstrap received his J.D. in 1981 from Baylor University School of Law and his B.A. magna cum laude in 1978 from Baylor University.

Judge Gina Marie Groh:  Nominee for the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia
Judge Gina Marie Groh has served as a Judge on the 23rd Judicial Circuit Court of West Virginia since 2006.  Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Groh was an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in West Virginia for approximately eight years, first in Berkeley County from 1998 to 2002 and later in Jefferson County from 2002 to 2006.  Before entering public service, Judge Groh worked at the law firm of Semmes, Bowen & Semmes from 1995 to 1998, at the law firm of Mell, Brownell & Baker from 1991 to 1995, and at the law firm of Steptoe & Johnson from 1989 to 1991.  She received her J.D. in 1989 from West Virginia University College of Law and her B.S. summa cum laude in 1986 from Shepherd University.