Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement after President Obama nominated United States Attorney André Birotte Jr. to be a United States District Judge for the Central District of California:

“It was my great honor to recommend André Birotte to serve as a federal district judge in Los Angeles. In 2009 I recommended Birotte to President Obama for the position of U.S. attorney, and I have been very impressed with his performance over the last four years. He has a record of excellence and fairness, and I am confident he will serve the people of the Central District very well as a U.S. district judge.”

Since 2010, Birotte has served as U.S. attorney for the Central District of California. He was recommended for that position by Senator Feinstein in 2009 and confirmed by the Senate in February 2010.

As U.S. attorney, Birotte is the lead federal law enforcement officer in the Central District of California, home to more than 18 million people. He oversees a staff of more than 500 employees and is charged with representing the U.S. government in criminal, civil and tax litigation matters.

Between 2001 and 2010, Birotte served in the Office of the Inspector General of the Los Angeles Police Commission. Starting in 2003, he served as the inspector general, overseeing a staff of more than 30 attorneys, auditors and former law enforcement officials overseeing LAPD’s internal investigations.

Between 1999 and 2001, Birotte was an associate with the Los Angeles litigation firm Quinn, Emanuel, Urquhart, Oliver & Hedges, representing clients in white-collar crime and commercial litigation cases.

Between 1995 and 1999, Birotte served as an assistant U.S. attorney where he investigated and prosecuted violent crime, fraud and narcotics trafficking cases.

Birotte’s legal career began in 1991 when he worked as a deputy public defender in Los Angeles representing indigent clients charged with felony and misdemeanor offenses in more than 30 trials.

Birotte earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Tufts University in 1987. He earned his law degree in 1991 from Pepperdine University School of Law, where he was an executive board member of the Moot Court Board.

Birotte is a member of the Langston Bar Association, serving on its board of directors from 1992 through 2002. He was a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Judicial Appointments Committee and Criminal Justice Executive Committee. He has taught legal writing and advocacy at the University of Southern California Law School.

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