U.S. Senate Confirms Nomination Of Hamlin Native

{Washington, D.C.}...Late Monday, the U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination of Hamlin, West Virginia native Stephanie Dawn Thacker as a judge on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The seat on the Richmond, Va.-based court became vacant after the March death of Judge Blane Michael. The 15-member court covers North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. Thacker has been a partner in the Charleston law firm of Guthrie & Thomas since 2006. Before that she spent seven years with the U.S. Justice Department. Her work there focused on prosecution and training in connection with child pornography and sexual exploitation, sex trafficking, obscenity and other offenses. She also served as an assistant federal prosecutor and worked for the state attorney general's office.