Thomas Owen Rice at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Court
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
- Jurisdiction
- Washington · Federal
- Judicial service
- March 8, 2012–present
Thomas Owen Rice
Judge · U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
Available research
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Biography
Professional career
- first assistant U.S. attorney, 2006-2012
- chief, Criminal Division, 2003-2006
- deputy chief, Criminal Division, 2000-2003
- Assistant U.S. attorney, Eastern District of Washington, 1987-2012
- Trial attorney, U.S. Department of Justice, 1986-1987
Judicial service
- Judge, District Court, E.D. Washington, 2012-present
Education
- Gonzaga University · B.B.A., 1983
Personal record
Born 1960 · Spokane, WA
Courtroom rules and guidance
Courtroom Technology
Courtwide presentation-related guidance applies to this judge.
District Court for the Eastern District of Washington uses a system that allows evidence admitted for a trial to be viewed electronically in the jury deliberation room upon the conclusion of the trial. The Jury Evidence Recording System (JERS) provides easy access to evidence during the deliberations through the use of a touchscreen monitor in…JERS Information | Eastern District of Washington | United States District Court ↗
Courtroom Technology
Courtwide presentation-related guidance applies to this judge.
. The Eastern District of Washington has electronic evidence display systems in all courtrooms in Spokane, Yakima, and Richland. While the functions of the equipment are the same, some of the equipment may differ between the courtrooms.Electronic Evidence Display in the Courtrooms | Eastern District of Washington | United States District Court ↗
Courtroom Technology
Courtwide presentation-related guidance applies to this judge.
. Jury Evidence Recording System (JERS) Information . Electronic Evidence Display .Courtroom Technology | Eastern District of Washington | United States District Court ↗
Civil Remote Testimony
In federal district-court civil proceedings, testimony is ordinarily taken in open court; remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause in compelling circumstances and appropriate safeguards.
For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location.Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court ↗
Criminal Recording And Broadcasting
Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception.
Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom.Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited ↗
Sources
Federal Judicial Center biography
Identity source · HTML · checked July 25, 2026
https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393911CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · checked August 2, 2026
https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2708/thomas-owen-rice/JERS Information | Eastern District of Washington | United States District Court
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 24, 2026
https://www.waed.uscourts.gov/about-court/courtroom-support/courtroom-technology/jers-informationElectronic Evidence Display in the Courtrooms | Eastern District of Washington | United States District Court
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 24, 2026
https://www.waed.uscourts.gov/about-court/courtroom-support/courtroom-technology/electronic-evidence-display-courtroomsCourtroom Technology | Eastern District of Washington | United States District Court
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 24, 2026
https://www.waed.uscourts.gov/about-court/courtroom-support/courtroom-technologyFederal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedureFederal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts