Robert L. Pitman
Encyclopedia
Robert Lee Pitman is an American lawyer who serves as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas. He was previously a magistrate judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
.
in 1962. He graduated from Abilene Christian University
, where he was student body president. Pitman then obtained a J.D.
from the University of Texas School of Law
. After completing law school, Pitman served as a law clerk
for Judge David Belew Jr. of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
.
for the Western District of Texas. He was replaced by George W. Bush
appointee Johnny Sutton
, who then made Pitman his chief deputy.
In October 2003, Pitman was selected to serve as a magistrate judge
for the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
.
In 2009, Republican
Senators John Cornyn
and Kay Bailey Hutchinson sent Pitman's name to Democratic
President Barack Obama
as one of two candidates for United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas. The recommendation of Pitman, who is openly gay, was publicly opposed by some social conservative groups in Texas. On June 27, 2011, almost two years after being recommended for the post, Obama notified members of congress that he would nominate Pitman to be United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas. He was formally nominated the following day.
The United States Senate confirmed Pitman to be a federal prosecutor on September 26, 2011. Once he is sworn in, Pitman would be the first openly gay United States Attorney in Texas. He is one of four openly LGBT U.S. Attorneys, alongside Jenny Durkan
of the Western District of Washington, Laura Duffy
of the Southern District of California
and Anne Tompkins
of the Western District of North Carolina.
United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
The United States District Court For the Western District Of Texas is a Federal district court. The court convenes in San Antonio with divisions in Austin, Del Rio, El Paso, Midland, Pecos, and Waco. It has jurisdiction in over 50 Trans-Pecos, Permian Basin and Hill Country counties of the U.S....
.
Early life and education
Pitman was born in Fort Worth, TexasFort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
in 1962. He graduated from Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University is a private university located in Abilene, Texas, affiliated with Churches of Christ. ACU was founded in 1906, as Childers Classical Institute...
, where he was student body president. Pitman then obtained a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of Texas School of Law
University of Texas School of Law
The University of Texas School of Law, also known as UT Law, is an ABA-certified American law school located on the University of Texas at Austin campus. The law school has been in operation since the founding of the University in 1883. It was one of only two schools at the University when it was...
. After completing law school, Pitman served as a law clerk
Law clerk
A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Law clerks are not court clerks or courtroom deputies, who are administrative staff for the court. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who...
for Judge David Belew Jr. of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas is a United States district court. Its first judge, Andrew Phelps McCormick, was appointed to the court on April 10, 1879. The court convenes in Dallas, Texas with divisions in Fort Worth, Amarillo, Abilene, Lubbock, San Angelo...
.
Career
In 2001, Pitman briefly served as interim United States AttorneyUnited States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
for the Western District of Texas. He was replaced by George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
appointee Johnny Sutton
Johnny Sutton
Johnny Sutton is an attorney who served as United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas from 2001 until 2009, and chaired the Attorney General's Advisory Committee of United States Attorneys. Sutton is known for the prosecution of United States Border Patrol agents Jose Compean and...
, who then made Pitman his chief deputy.
In October 2003, Pitman was selected to serve as a magistrate judge
United States magistrate judge
In the United States federal courts, magistrate judges are appointed to assist United States district court judges in the performance of their duties...
for the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
The United States District Court For the Western District Of Texas is a Federal district court. The court convenes in San Antonio with divisions in Austin, Del Rio, El Paso, Midland, Pecos, and Waco. It has jurisdiction in over 50 Trans-Pecos, Permian Basin and Hill Country counties of the U.S....
.
In 2009, Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Senators John Cornyn
John Cornyn
John Cornyn, III is the junior United States Senator for Texas, serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. He was elected Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee for the 111th U.S. Congress....
and Kay Bailey Hutchinson sent Pitman's name to Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
as one of two candidates for United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas. The recommendation of Pitman, who is openly gay, was publicly opposed by some social conservative groups in Texas. On June 27, 2011, almost two years after being recommended for the post, Obama notified members of congress that he would nominate Pitman to be United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas. He was formally nominated the following day.
The United States Senate confirmed Pitman to be a federal prosecutor on September 26, 2011. Once he is sworn in, Pitman would be the first openly gay United States Attorney in Texas. He is one of four openly LGBT U.S. Attorneys, alongside Jenny Durkan
Jenny Durkan
Jenny Anne Durkan is an American lawyer from Seattle, Washington who serves as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Washington.- Early life and education :...
of the Western District of Washington, Laura Duffy
Laura Duffy
Laura Elizabeth Duffy is an American lawyer who serves as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of California.- Early life and education :...
of the Southern District of California
United States Attorney for the Southern District of California
The United States Attorney for the Southern District of California is the United States Attorney responsible for representing the federal government in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California....
and Anne Tompkins
Anne Tompkins
Anne Magee Tompkins is an American lawyer who serves as the United States Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.- Early life and education :...
of the Western District of North Carolina.