BIRMINGHAM, Ala. AP – Alabama’s first black federal judge is leaving the bench next month after nearly three decades, spelling out his plans in a letter to President Barack Obama praising the nation’s first black chief executive.

U.S. District Judge U.W. Clemon, in a letter made public Wednesday, said he was “ecstatic” over Obama’s victory, which he called the fulfillment of a lifelong dream to see an African-American president.