[1] Thomas grew up with his family on welfare and living in housing projects in the small town of Republic, in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
[citation needed] Thomas earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington & Jefferson College in 1991 and a Juris Doctor from Temple University Beasley School of Law in 1994.
In 2005, Thomas was elected to be a judge on the Miami-Dade Circuit Court, where he has presided over both civil cases (including complex medical malpractice, business litigation, tobacco litigation, eminent domain, wrongful death) and criminal cases (including death penalty, murder, robbery, rape).
[5] If confirmed, Thomas will be the first out gay African American man to serve as a federal judge.
[7] Thomas' nomination was returned to the President due to the sine die adjournment of Congress on January 3, 2014.