President Barack Obama has nominated Knoxville attorney Pamela L. Reeves to a judgeship in the Eastern District of Tennessee, according to a White House news release.
If confirmed by the Senate, Reeves will replace U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Phillips, who is retiring from the seat based in Knoxville.
The White House news release said Reeves has worked at the law firm of Reeves, Herbert & Anderson in Knoxville since 2002, where she has both mediation and litigation practices concentrating on employment and contract matters.
Before forming Reeves, Herbert & Anderson, she spent about 14 years at the law firm previously known as Watson, Hollow & Reeves, and she has worked in several other firms.
Reeves received her J.D. in 1979 from the George C. Taylor College of Law at the University of Tennessee and her B.A. with highest honors in 1976 from the University of Tennessee. From 1998 to 1999, she was the first woman to serve as President of the Tennessee Bar Association, the release stated.
Phillips announced in November that he would take senior status on July 6, the Knoxville News Sentinel reported. The newspaper said Phillips was appointed by President George W. Bush in 2002 to succeed Judge James Jarvis.
Obama announced two other judicial nominees Thursday: Debra M. Brown, for the Northern District of Mississippi, and Elizabeth A. Wolford, for the Western District of New York.