More Evidence of a Shift in the Political Tide?

Yesterday, President Obama nominated Michael Walter Fitzgerald (Boalt '85) to be a District Judge at the C.D. Cal.  He would be the first openly gay judge at the C.D. Cal.  This comes on the heels of the smooth confirmation of Judge Oetken to the S.D.N.Y., which some have remarked as being remarkably unremarkable.  As I've said before, there's still a lot of progress left to be done, but the issue of gay rights does not appear to be the lightning rod of firestorm for the far right it once was. 

More importantly, I'm hearing through the rumor mill (I haven't had any direct dealings with him or his firm) that Michael is a great lawyer.  So three cheers on the nomination of a Boaltie to the federal bench and here's to a smooth confirmation process.