Vermont Public Defender Mary Kay Lanthier was confirmed by the US Senate yesterday (Sept. 11) to be the next US District Court judge for the District of Vermont. She will join Chief Judge Christina Reiss on Vermont’s federal bench. Lanthier will primarily preside in U.S. District Court in Rutland with Reiss continuing in in Burlington.
Lanthier was recommended for the position by Vermont senators Peter Welch (D-VT) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and nominated by President Joe Biden. She will be filling the position formerly held by longtime US District Court judge Geoffrey Crawford, who announced last year that he would be moving to senior status.
Lanthier, longtime head of the VBA Section on Criminal Law, is well known and well respected throughout the state. Her nomination did not face significant challenges, and she was approved with bipartisan support. To learn more about Judge Lanthier her appointment, see this press release from Senator Welch’s Office.
