President Obama Names Two to the United States District Court, 2/16/2011

WASHINGTON- Today, President Obama nominated Judge Timothy M. Cain and Judge Scott W. Skavdahl to United States District Court judgeships.

“I am honored to nominate these distinguished individuals to serve on the United States District Court bench,”said President Obama.  “They have both demonstrated an unwavering commitment to justice throughout their careers, and I am confident they will continue to serve the American people with integrity.”

Judge Timothy M. Cain:  Nominee for the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina
Judge Timothy M. Cain is a Family Court Judge in South Carolina’s Tenth Judicial Circuit, based in Oconee County, where he has served since 2000.  His jurisdiction includes all domestic and family relationship matters, as well as most criminal cases involving minors under the age of 17.  He has also sat as an Acting Associate Justice on the South Carolina Supreme Court in several cases by the designation of the Court’s Chief Justice.  Prior to joining the bench, Judge Cain worked in private practice from 1990 to 2000, handling domestic relations, civil, transactional, and criminal matters, and served as the appointed County Attorney for Oconee County from 1992 to 2000.  Judge Cain worked as a prosecutor in the Oconee County Solicitor’s Office from 1988 to 1990, and as an associate at the firm of Miley & Macaulay from 1986 to 1988, during which time he also worked as a part-time public defender.  He received his J.D. in 1986 from the University of South Carolina School of Law, and his B.S. in 1983 from the University of South Carolina.

Judge Scott W. Skavdahl:  Nominee for the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming
Judge Scott W. Skavdahl is a United States Magistrate Judge for the District of Wyoming.  Prior to his appointment, he served as a judge on the Seventh Judicial District Court, in Casper, Wyoming, from 2003 to January 2011.  Prior to being appointed to the state bench, Judge Skavdahl worked at the law firm of Williams, Porter, Day & Neville, where he was a partner from 1999 to 2003 and an associate from 1997 to 1998.  Judge Skavdahl also served as a part-time United States Magistrate Judge from 2001 until his appointment to the state bench in 2003.  From 1994 to 1997, he served as a judicial law clerk to Chief Judge William F. Downes of the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming.  Prior to that, Judge Skavdahl worked as a litigation associate at Brown & Drew (now Brown, Drew & Massey) from 1992 to 1994.  Judge Skavdahl received his J.D. in 1992 and his B.S. in 1989, both from the University of Wyoming.