Episcopal Priest Designated Chief Judge of U.S. Court of Federal Claims

On Monday, the White House announced that President Obama has designated U.S. Court of Federal Claims Judge Emily C. Hewitt to serve as Chief Judge of the court. The promotion took effect on March 11. Episcopal Life reports that Hewitt is an Episcopal priest. She was one of the eleven women ordained to the priesthood in 1974 in contravention of then-prevailing Church doctrine that only permitted men to be ordained. In 1977, the General Convention and the House of Bishops opened the priesthood to women and provided for Hewitt and others to be recognized. Hewitt is a graduate of Cornell University, Union Theological Seminary and Harvard Law School.