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Audio Included in Post. Audio ©2010 WTLC/Radio One. Tanya Walton Pratt was unanimously confirmed Tuesday, June 15th by the United States Senate as the newest Federal Judge for the Southern District of Indiana and the first African-American Federal Judge in Indiana history. The vote was 95 to 0. Both Indiana Senators Evan Bayh and Richard Lugar voted to confirm Judge Pratt. Hear the exclusive interview with federal Judge Pratt from Wednesday’s Afternoons with Amos.

President Barack Obama nominated Pratt to be a Federal Judge on January 20th and she underwent a Senate confirmation hearing in February.

An Indianapolis native, Pratt is a graduate of Spelman College and the Howard University School of Law. After practicing law in Indianapolis, she began her judicial career first as a Master Commissioner in the early 1990’s.

Then in 1996, Tanya Walton Pratt was elected to the Marion County Superior Court. She was re-elected 2002 and 2008, each time being either the top or near the top vote getters in the countrywide election.

As a Superior Court Judge, Judge Pratt handled major felony cases and currently handles civil and probate cases. Indiana’s newest Federal Judge also served as one of the Presiding Judges of the thirty-two member county court system.

Federal Judge Tanya Walton Pratt is expected to be sworn Froday, June 25th.