President Biden Names Thirty-Fourth Round of Judicial Nominees and One New Nominee to Serve as U.S. Attorney

The President is announcing his intent to nominate two individuals to federal district courts, one individual to the Court of Federal Claims, and one individual to the District of Columbia Superior Court—all of whom are extraordinarily qualified, experienced, and devoted to the rule of law and our Constitution.

These choices also continue to fulfill the President’s promise to ensure that the nation’s courts reflect the diversity that is one of our greatest assets as a country—both in terms of personal and professional backgrounds.

If confirmed, this slate would include the first person of color ever to sit on the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana.

This will be President Biden’s thirty-fourth round of nominees for federal judicial positions, bringing the number of announced federal judicial nominees to 170.

The President is also announcing his intent to nominate one individual to serve as U.S. Attorney.  This is an official who will be indispensable to upholding the rule of law as a top federal law enforcement official.

This candidate was chosen for her devotion to enforcing the law, professionalism, experience and credentials, dedication to pursuing equal justice for all, and commitment to the independence of the Department of Justice.

The President has now announced 71 nominees to serve as U.S. Attorneys.

United States District Court Announcements

Jerry Edwards, Jr.: Candidate for the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana

Jerry Edwards, Jr., has served as the First Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana in Shreveport since 2022.  Previously he served as Chief of the Civil Division from 2020 to 2022 after joining that office as an Assistant United States Attorney in 2019.  Prior to that, Mr. Edwards was an associate from 2006 to 2014 and then a shareholder and director from 2014 to 2019 at Blanchard, Walker, O’Quin & Roberts, A.P.L.C.  From 2005 to 2006, he served as a law clerk for Judges Jeanette G. Garrett and Scott J. Crichton of the First Judicial District Court of Louisiana.  Mr. Edwards received his J.D. from Vermont Law School in 2005 and his B.A. from Georgia State University in 2002.

Brandon Scott Long: Candidate for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana

Brandon Scott Long has served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana in New Orleans since 2014.  From February 2020 to July 2021, Mr. Long was detailed to serve as the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington, D.C.  He previously served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia from 2010 to 2014.  From 2005 to 2010, Mr. Long was an associate at King & Spalding L.L.P.  He received his J.D., cum laude, from Duke University School of Law in 2005 and received a B.B.A. and a B.A., cum laude, from the University of Texas at Austin in 1999.

United States Court of Federal Claims Announcement

Philip S. Hadji: Candidate for the United States Court of Federal Claims

Philip S. Hadji has served as a civilian attorney with the Office of the General Counsel at the Department of the Navy since 2011.  He has served as a Senior Trial Attorney in the Naval Litigation Office since October 2022, as an Associate Counsel and then Deputy Counsel in the District of Columbia Office of the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command from 2020 to 2022, an Assistant Counsel and then Division Director in the Acquisition Integrity Office from 2016 to 2020, and an Assistant Counsel at the Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center from 2011 to 2016.  He received his LL.M. from George Washington University Law School in 2011, his J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 2009, and his A.B., cum laude, from Hamilton College in 2004.

District of Columbia Superior Court Announcement

Kenechukwu Onyemaechi Okocha: Candidate for the District of Columbia Superior Court

Kenechukwu Onyemaechi Okocha has served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia since 2011.  He has been Deputy Chief for the Sex Offense and Domestic Violence Division in that office since 2019.  Mr. Okocha previously served as an Assistant District Attorney at the Dane County District Attorney’s Office in Madison, Wisconsin from 2008 to 2010.  Mr. Okocha received his J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 2007 and his B.S. from the University of Wisconsin in 2004. 

United States Attorney Announcement

Rebecca C. Lutzko: Candidate for United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio

Rebecca C. Lutzko has served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio since 2005.  Ms. Lutzko has held several leadership and line assistant positions in that office, serving as Chief of the Appeals Unit since 2017 and previously serving as Deputy Chief of the Major Fraud and Corruption Unit from 2010 to 2011.  Prior to that, she was an associate at BakerHostetler in Cleveland from 1998 to 2005.  Ms. Lutzko served as a law clerk for Judge Alice M. Batchelder on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit from 1997 to 1998.  She received her J.D., cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center in 1997 and her B.A., magna cum laude, from Boston University in 1993.

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