New 4th Circuit Judge

The U.S. Senate has confirmed Stephanie Dawn Thacker, a West Virginia lawyer, 4th Circuit appointment. Soon to be Judge Thacker takes the vacancy created by the death of Judge Blane Michael in March. The surprisingly leftward moving court covers North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Thacker has been a partner at Charleston law firm, Guthrie & Thomas, for the last six years. Before that, she spent seven years with the U.S. Justice Department and has also served as an assistant federal prosecutor and worked for the state attorney general’s office.

Over that time, she must have impressed the heck out of a lot of people to grab a 4th Circuit seat.