President Obama on Thursday evening made his third nomination of an openly gay person for a federal court seat.

Obama nominated attorney Alison J. Nathan, a former White House counsel and current special counsel to New York State’s Solicitor General. He nominated Nathan to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, in Manhattan.

A press release from the White House Thursday night quoted the president as characterizing Nathan as a “distinguished individual who has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to justice throughout her career.”

President Obama has nominated two other openly gay people to positions on the federal courts: Edward DuMont to the federal appeals court for the Federal Circuit and Paul Oetken to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Neither has yet been confirmed; only Oetken has received a confirmation hearing.

Nathan served as a law clerk to now retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, as well as 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Betty Fletcher.

Prior to joining the staff of the New York State Solicitor General, she was a special assistant to President Obama and an associate White House Counsel.

She is a former assistant professor of law at Fordham University and a former fellow at New York University Law School.

She was an associate of the Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr law firm.

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) recommended Nathan for the position.