Thomas T. Cullen

Thomas Tullidge Cullen (born 1977) is an American lawyer who has served as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia since 2020. He served as a United States attorney for the same district from 2018 to 2020.

Education and legal career
Cullen received his Bachelor of Arts from Furman University cum laude in 2000 and his Juris Doctor from the William & Mary School of Law in 2004, where he was inducted into the Order of the Coif. He was a law clerk to Judge Robert E. Payne of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia from 2004 to 2005 and for Judge Roger Gregory of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit from 2005 to 2006.

Cullen served as an assistant United States attorney for the Western District of North Carolina from 2006 to 2010 and for the Western District of Virginia from 2010 to 2013, where he was Deputy Criminal Chief. Before becoming U.S. Attorney, he was a Principal/Partner at Woods Rogers PLC in Roanoke, Virginia, from 2013 to 2018, representing clients in complex civil and criminal litigation.

U.S. attorney
Cullen was recommended as a candidate for United States attorney by Virginia Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine. On March 22, 2018, his nomination was reported out of committee by voice vote. He was confirmed by voice vote later the same day. He was sworn in on March 30, 2018. His tenure as U.S. Attorney ended on September 15, 2020, when he became a district judge.

Federal judicial service
On December 18, 2019, President Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate Cullen to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia. On February 4, 2020, his nomination was sent to the Senate. President Trump nominated Cullen to the seat vacated by Judge Glen E. Conrad, who assumed senior status on December 11, 2017. On March 4, 2020, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee. On May 14, 2020, his nomination was reported out of committee by a 17–5 vote. On September 9, 2020, the United States Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 77–18 vote. On September 10, 2020, his nomination was confirmed by a 79–19 vote. He received his judicial commission on September 15, 2020.

Personal life
His father is former Attorney General of Virginia Richard Cullen.