Who appointed Thomas G. Nelson?

President George H.W. Bush appointed Thomas G. Nelson to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in 1990.

Was Thomas G. Nelson appointed by a Democrat or a Republican?

Thomas G. Nelson was appointed by President George H.W. Bush, a Republican. JudicialFinder records the appointing president's party, not a judge's own politics.

What was Thomas G. Nelson's confirmation vote?

Thomas G. Nelson was confirmed by voice vote on October 12, 1990. No senator-by-senator tally was recorded.

Ninth Circuit / Appointed 1990 / Served to 2011

Thomas G. Nelson

Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Appointed by President George H.W. Bush in 1990 and confirmed by voice vote, Thomas G. Nelson was a Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He earned a law degree from University of Idaho College of Law in 1962. Sources ↓

Lived: 1936–2011
Appointed by: George H.W. Bush, 1990
Confirmed: by voice vote
Education: University of Idaho College of Law 1962
Succeeded: J. Blaine Anderson
Succeeded by: Norman Randy Smith

Federal judicial service

Year	Court	Appointed by	Vote
1990	Ninth Circuit succeeded J. Blaine Anderson	G.H.W. Bush (R)	Voice vote

Party letters show the appointing president’s party, not the judge’s own. A voice vote means the chamber approved aloud. No senator-by-senator tally is recorded.

Confirmation vote

Voice vote

The Senate approved this confirmation aloud, with no senator-by-senator tally recorded. Recorded roll-call votes begin in 1989.

Education

University of Idaho College of Law

LL.B.

1962

Questions & answers

Who appointed Thomas G. Nelson?: President George H.W. Bush appointed Thomas G. Nelson to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in 1990.
Was Thomas G. Nelson appointed by a Democrat or a Republican?: Thomas G. Nelson was appointed by President George H.W. Bush, a Republican. JudicialFinder records the appointing president's party, not a judge's own politics.
What was Thomas G. Nelson's confirmation vote?: Thomas G. Nelson was confirmed by voice vote on October 12, 1990. No senator-by-senator tally was recorded.
Which court was Thomas G. Nelson on?: Thomas G. Nelson was a Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Sources

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20 years on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Data as of 2026-08-10. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).