Sandra Lynn Townes  

(born 1944) is a District Judge for the   United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. She joined the court in 2004 after being nominated by President George W. Bush.

Born in   Spartanburg, South Carolina, Townes graduated from   Johnson C. Smith University   with her Bachelor's degree in 1966 and later from   Syracuse University College of Law   with a   Juris Doctor degree in 1976.

Following law school graduation, Townes working with the   Onondaga County, New York   District Attorney's Office as Assistant district attorney from 1977 to 1983 and was promoted to Senior assistant district attorney from 1983 to 1986 and became Chief assistant district attorney from 1986 to 1987. Townes later became a City Court Judge for the City Court of   Syracuse, New York from 1988 to 1999 before being appointed by   New York   Governor   George Pataki   as Justice of the Fifth Judicial District   New York Supreme Court   2000 to 2004 and was promoted to Associate justice handling appeals for the 2nd Judicial Department of the New York State Supreme Court from 2001 to 2004. During this time Townes also taught academically as a   Adjunct professor   at Syracuse University College of Law from 1987 to 1995 and at   Onondaga Community College   from 1992 to 2001.

Townes was nominated to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York by President George W. Bush on August 1, 2003 to a seat vacated   Sterling Johnson, Jr.. Townes was confirmed by the   Senate   on June 3, 2004 on a Senate vote and received her commission on August 2, 2004.