ST. THOMAS - One of the first things District Judge Curtis Gomez did in 2005 is assume the bench.

Gomez, a former assistant U.S. attorney, began his 10-year term as a District Court judge on Monday, the first working day of 2005.

Gomez replaces District Judge Thomas Moore, who was not reappointed to a second term.

In the Virgin Islands, district judges are appointed to 10-year terms. When their terms expire, the president has the option of reappointing the judge or appointing a new nominee. President Bush nominated Gomez in November 2003.

After his nomination, Gomez went in front of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, where he was questioned about his experience and disposition on the bench.

In November, days before the U.S. Senate adjourned, the full Senate voted to confirm Gomez's judgeship. He was officially sworn in on Monday, but a more formal ceremony will be held Jan. 28.

"I feel grateful. I feel honored. I feel humbled," Gomez said after his confirmation by the U.S. Senate. "I feel awed by the whole thing. I'm grateful to the president, and I'm really grateful for all the community support."

Gomez is a native of the Virgin Islands and has a distinguished academic and legal career. He was born on St. Croix and moved to St. Thomas, where he became valedictorian of Charlotte Amalie High School in 1981.

He earned his bachelor's degree in 1984 from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and graduated from Harvard Law School in 1989.

Gomez's first job as a lawyer was as an associate at Patton Boggs, a law firm in Washington, D.C. He then spent four years as an associate at the St. Thomas law firm Dudley, Topper and Feuerzeig.

He started as an assistant U.S. attorney in 1997, working first on St. Thomas, where his responsibilities included criminal investigation and prosecution of public corruption, violent crime and drug offenses. He also worked with the U.S. attorney's Financial Litigation Unit.

In July 2001, he was transferred to the Eastern Virginia District in Alexandria, Va., where he was assigned to the Narcotics Unit.

He returned to St. Thomas in November 2002 to serve in the same capacity. Gomez was an assistant U.S. attorney until his swearing-in.

On Tuesday, Gomez declined comment about hs new post.

- Contact Megan Poinski at 774-8772 ext. 304 or e-mail mpoinski@dailynews.vi.