William L. Thomas

William L. Thomas (born 1967) is an American circuit judge for Florida's Eleventh Judicial Circuit. He was also a former nominee for United States district judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Raised by his mother after his father's death, Thomas grew up in the small town of Republic, Pennsylvania. He faced challenging circumstances, living on welfare in housing projects plagued by crime and violence. Despite these obstacles, Thomas's mother instilled in him the value of education and sacrifice. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington & Jefferson College in 1991 and a Juris Doctor from Temple University Beasley School of Law in 1994. Thomas began his career as an assistant state public defender in Miami-Dade County in 1994 and later became an assistant federal public defender.