Thomas T. Cullen

Thomas T. Cullen
Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia
Incumbent
Assumed office
September 15, 2020
Appointed byDonald Trump
Preceded byGlen E. Conrad
United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia
In office
March 30, 2018 – September 15, 2020
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byJohn P. Fishwick Jr.
Succeeded byChristopher R. Kavanaugh
Personal details
Born1977 (age 46–47)
Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
EducationFurman University (BA, LLD (Hon.))
College of William & Mary (JD)

Thomas Tullidge Cullen (born 1977) is an American lawyer who has served as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia since 2020. He served as a United States attorney for the same district from 2018 to 2020.

Cullen graduated from Collegiate School in Richmond, Virginia, in 1996. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Furman University cum laude in 2000 and his Juris Doctor from the William & Mary School of Law in 2004, where he was inducted into the Order of the Coif. He was a law clerk to Judge Robert E. Payne of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia from 2004 to 2005 and for Judge Roger Gregory of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit from 2005 to 2006.

Cullen served as an assistant United States attorney for the Western District of North Carolina from 2006 to 2010 and for the Western District of Virginia from 2010 to 2013, where he was Deputy Criminal Chief. Before becoming U.S. Attorney, he was a Principal/Partner at Woods Rogers PLC in Roanoke, Virginia, from 2013 to 2018, representing clients in complex civil and criminal litigation.[1][2]

U.S. attorney

Cullen was recommended as a candidate for United States attorney by Virginia Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine.[3] On March 22, 2018, his nomination was reported out of committee by voice vote.[4] He was confirmed by voice vote later the same day.[5] He was sworn in on March 30, 2018. His tenure as U.S. Attorney ended on September 15, 2020, when he became a district judge.[6]

Federal judicial service

On December 18, 2019, President Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate Cullen to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia.[7] On February 4, 2020, his nomination was sent to the Senate. President Trump nominated Cullen to the seat vacated by Judge Glen E. Conrad, who assumed senior status on December 11, 2017.[8] On March 4, 2020, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.[9] On May 14, 2020, his nomination was reported out of committee by a 17–5 vote.[10] On September 9, 2020, the United States Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 77–18 vote.[11] On September 10, 2020, his nomination was confirmed by a 79–19 vote.[12] He received his judicial commission on September 15, 2020.[13]

Awards and honors

In 2022, Cullen was named a trustee at his alma mater, Furman University.[14]

In 2024, he was named the Carter O. Lowance Fellow at William & Mary Law School.[15]

In 2024, Furman University awarded Cullen an honorary doctorate in law.[16]

Personal life

His father is former Attorney General of Virginia Richard Cullen.[3]

References

  1. ^ "President Donald J. Trump Announces Eleventh Wave of United States Attorney Nominees". whitehouse.gov. February 16, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2018 – via National Archives. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ "Questionnaire for Judicial Nominees" (PDF). U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Cullen's son among two that Warner, Kaine recommend for top U.S. prosecutor in Roanoke". Richmond Times-Dispatch. July 21, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  4. ^ "Results of Executive Business Meeting – March 22, 2018, Senate Judiciary Committee" (PDF).
  5. ^ "PN1656 - Nomination of Thomas T. Cullen for Department of Justice, 115th Congress (2017-2018) | Congress.gov | Library of Congress".
  6. ^ "U.S. Attorney Thomas T. Cullen Announces Departure" (Press release). Roanoke, Virginia: United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Virginia. September 10, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  7. ^ "President Donald J. Trump Announces Judicial Nominees and United States Marshal Nominees – The White House". trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov.
  8. ^ "Eleven Nominations Sent to the Senate – The White House". trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov.
  9. ^ "Nominations | United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary". www.judiciary.senate.gov.
  10. ^ "Results of Executive Business Meeting – May 14, 2020" (PDF). Senate Judiciary Committee.
  11. ^ "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture: Thomas T. Cullen to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Virginia)". United States Senate. September 9, 2020.
  12. ^ "On the Nomination (Confirmation: Thomas T. Cullen, of Virginia, to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Virginia)". United States Senate. September 10, 2020.
  13. ^ Thomas T. Cullen at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  14. ^ "Board of Trustees".
  15. ^ "Thomas Cullen Honored as 2024 Carter O. Lowance Fellow". William & Mary Law School.
  16. ^ "Furman graduates nearly 500 in two commencement ceremonies". May 5, 2024.
Legal offices
Preceded by United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia
2018–2020 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia
2020–present 		Incumbent