Thursday, February 4, 2016

The Obama Nominations: U.S. District Courts & U.S. Marshal Service

 
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, President Obama nominated Stephanie A. Finley and Claude J. Kelly III to serve on the United States District Courts.

“Throughout their careers, these nominees have displayed unwavering commitment to justice and integrity,” said President Obama.  “Their records of public service are distinguished and impressive and I am confident that they will serve the American people well from the United States District Court bench.  I am honored to nominate them today.”

Stephanie A. Finley:  Nominee for the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana

Stephanie A. Finley has served as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana since 2010.  Prior to her appointment, she served as an Assistant United States Attorney in that office from 1995 to 2010, during which she served as Senior Litigation Counsel from 2007 to 2010 and Acting Deputy Criminal Chief from 2008 to 2009.  In addition, Finley has served as an Assistant Staff Judge Advocate for the United States Air Force Reserves since 1995.  She began her legal career serving on active duty as an Assistant Staff Judge Advocate for the United States Air Force from 1991 to 1995.  Finley received her J.D. cum laude from Southern University Law Center in 1991 and her B.S. magna cum laude from Grambling State University in 1988.

Claude J. Kelly III:  Nominee for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana

Claude J. Kelly III has served as Chief Federal Defender in the Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana since 2014.  Prior to his appointment, Kelly was a criminal defense attorney for sixteen years in New Orleans, Louisiana – from 2006 to 2014, he was a solo practitioner and from 1992 to 2000, he served as an Assistant Federal Defender in the office he now leads.  In the six-year period between these two roles, Kelly served as the Director of International Sales for Optimal Healthcare in Miami, Florida from 2000 to 2002 and as a consultant for the International Exchange Group in Washington, D.C. from 2002 to 2006.  Before joining the Federal Public Defender’s Office in 1992, Kelly was the General Manager for two years in his family’s restaurant, Kolb’s German Restaurant.  He began his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney with the New Orleans District Attorney’s Office from 1987 to 1990.  Kelly received his J.D. from Tulane University Law School in 1987 and his B.A. from the College of the Holy Cross in 1983. 

President Obama also nominated Patrick A. Burke to serve as U.S. Marshal for the District of Columbia.

“Patrick A. Burke has a long and stellar track record in public safety,” said President Obama.  “I’m honored to nominate him to serve as a United States Marshal, and I know he will show unwavering courage and commitment in protecting his fellow citizens.”

Patrick A. Burke:  Nominee for the United States Marshal for the District of Columbia

Patrick A. Burke currently serves as Assistant Chief of Police in the Strategic Services Bureau for the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia, where he oversees training, professional development, and strategic planning.  Chief Burke has been with the Metropolitan Police Department for more than 26 years, during which time he has served in a variety of capacities including in the Homeland Security Bureau where he oversaw security coordination for major events such as the 56th Presidential Inauguration and the 2008 Papal visit.  In addition, since 2013, he has served as an adjunct professor in the College of Professional Studies at The George Washington University, teaching both graduate and undergraduate courses in Emergency Management, Crisis Communications, and Media/Public Relations.  Chief Burke received his B.S. from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1988, his M.S. from Johns Hopkins University in 2000, and his M.A. from the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security. 

Source: The White House, Office of the Press Secretary

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