Lesbian Named Head of
U.S. Court of Federal Claims

President Obama has designated a lesbian attorney, who is also an ordained Episcopal priest, to be the chief judge of the U.S. court of federal claims, the White House announced on Monday. Judge Emily C. Hewitt, 64, currently serves on the court, after being appointed by President Clinton and confirmed by the Senate in 1998.

The U.S. court of federal claims hears monetary claims against the government.

During her time with the court, Judge Hewitt has chaired the rules and building and space committees, and served on its management committee. In 2006 she was appointed by Chief Justice John Roberts to serve on the financial disclosure committee of the United States Judicial Conference, according to a biography released by the White House. Judge Hewitt previously served in an appointed position as general counsel to the General Services Administration during the Clinton administration. Prior to entering public service she practiced law with the Boston firm Hill and Barlow.

A Baltimore native, Judge Hewitt graduated from Cornell University, Union Theological Seminary, and Harvard Law School. She was one of the first 11 women ordained in the Episcopal priesthood in 1974.

Judge Hewitt is married to attorney Eleanor Dean Acheson, according to a biography on the court website . Acheson served as an assistant attorney general for policy development in the Clinton administration, and later was director of policy and government affairs for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. She is currently vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary of Amtrak.