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The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release

President Obama Nominates Eight to Serve on the United States District Courts

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama nominated Judge Cynthia Ann Bashant, Stanley Allen Bastian, Diane J. Humetewa, Justice Jon David Levy, Judge Steven Paul Logan, Judge Douglas L. Rayes, Manish S. Shah, and John Joseph Tuchi for District Court judgeships.

“These men and women have had distinguished legal careers and I am honored to ask them to continue their work as judges on the federal bench,” said President Obama. “They will serve the American people with integrity and an unwavering commitment to justice.”

Judge Cynthia Ann Bashant: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Southern District of California

Judge Cynthia Ann Bashant has served on the San Diego Superior Court since 2000, where she has handled both criminal and juvenile matters.  From 2009 to 2012, she was the presiding judge for the juvenile dependency and delinquency courts.  Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Bashant served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of California from 1989 to 2000.  She practiced civil litigation as an associate with Baker & McKenzie in San Diego from 1988 to 1989 and with Macdonald Halsted & Laybourne in San Diego from 1986 to 1988.  Judge Bashant received her J.D. in 1986 from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law and her A.B. from Smith College in 1982.

Stanley Allen Bastian: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington

Stanley Allen Bastian is the managing partner of the Wenatchee, Washington law firm Jeffers, Danielson, Sonn & Aylward, P.S., where he primarily handles civil employment cases.  Prior to joining the law firm in 1988, Bastian worked as an Assistant City Attorney in Seattle from 1985 to 1988, where he prosecuted criminal cases.  Bastian began his legal career by serving as a law clerk to Judge Ward Williams on the Washington State Court of Appeals from 1984 to 1985 and by working as an associate at Bergman & Bauer from 1983 to 1984.  He received his J.D. in 1983 from the University of Washington School of Law and his B.S. in 1980 from the University of Oregon.  Bastian was the President of the Washington State Bar Association from 2007 through 2009 and Chair of the Equal Justice Coalition from 2010 to 2013. 

Diane J. Humetewa: Nominee for the United States District Court for the District of Arizona

Diane J. Humetewa currently serves as Special Advisor to the President and Special Counsel in the Office of General Counsel at Arizona State University.  She is also a Professor of Practice at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law.  From 2009 to 2011, Humetewa was Of Counsel with Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP.  She worked in the United States Attorney’s Office in the District of Arizona from 1996 to 2009, serving as Senior Litigation Counsel from 2001 to 2007 and as the United States Attorney from 2007 to 2009.  During her tenure in the United States Attorney’s Office, Humetewa also served as Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General from 1996 to 1998.  From 1993 to 1996, she was Deputy Counsel for the United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.  Humetewa received her J.D. in 1993 from Arizona State University College of Law and her B.S. in 1987 from Arizona State University.  She is a member of the Hopi Indian Tribe and, from 2002 to 2007, was an Appellate Court Judge for the Hopi Tribe Appellate Court. 

Justice Jon David Levy: Nominee for the United States District Court for the District of Maine

Justice Jon David Levy has been an Associate Justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court since 2002.  Justice Levy previously served as a Maine District Court Judge from 1995 to 2002, during which time he served as Deputy Chief Judge from 2000 to 2001 and Chief Judge from 2001 to 2002.  Prior to joining the bench, Justice Levy worked in private practice in York, Maine from 1983 to 1995.  From 1981 to 1982, he was appointed by Judge William W. Justice to serve as a Special Court Monitor of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas.  Justice Levy began his legal career by clerking for Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. of the United States District Court in the Southern District of West Virginia from 1979 to 1981.  He received his J.D. in 1979 from the West Virginia University College of Law and his B.S. in 1976 from Syracuse University. 

Judge Steven Paul Logan: Nominee for the United States District Court for the District of Arizona

Judge Steven Paul Logan has served as a United States Magistrate Judge in the District of Arizona since January 2012.  Previously, Judge Logan served as a United States Immigration Judge from 2010 to 2012, as an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Arizona from 2001 to 2010, and as an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Minnesota from 1999 to 2001.  From 2008 to 2009, he served as Chief of the White Collar and Public Corruption Section in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.  Judge Logan is also a 23-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps, holds the rank of Colonel, and currently serves on the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals.  During his military career, Judge Logan served two tours in Iraq and one tour in Afghanistan.  He also spent six years as a military trial judge.  He was awarded the Bronze Star and Combat Action Ribbon for his second tour of duty in Iraq.  Judge Logan received his J.D. in 1992 from the University of Oklahoma and his B.S. from the University of Louisville in 1988. 

Judge Douglas L. Rayes: Nominee for the United States District Court for the District of Arizona

Judge Douglas L. Rayes has served as a Maricopa County Superior Court Judge since 2000.  During his tenure on the bench, Judge Rayes has presided over a wide range of cases, including civil, criminal, and family law matters.  Before becoming a judge, Judge Rayes was a partner at the law firms of Tryon, Heller & Rayes from 1989 to 2000; McGroder, Tryon, Heller & Rayes from 1986 to 1989; and McGroder, Tryon, Heller, Rayes & Berch from 1984 to 1986.  From 1982 to 1984, he was an associate at McGroder, Pearlstein, Pepler & Tryon.  Judge Rayes served in the Army Judge Advocate General Corps from 1979 to 1982.  He received his J.D. cum laude in 1978 from Arizona State University College of Law and his B.S.E. summa cum laude in 1975 from Arizona State University. 

Manish S. Shah: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Manish S. Shah has been an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois since 2001.  Shah currently serves as Chief of the Criminal Division, having previously served as Chief of Criminal Appeals from 2011 to 2012.  Shah was also Deputy Chief of the Financial Crimes & Special Prosecutions Section from 2008 to 2011 and Deputy Chief of the General Crimes Section from 2007 to 2008.  Prior to joining the United States Attorney’s Office, Shah clerked for Judge James B. Zagel of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois from 1999 to 2001 and worked as an associate at Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe in San Francisco from 1998 to 1999.  He received his J.D. with honors in 1998 from the University of Chicago Law School and his B.A. with honors and distinction in 1994 from Stanford University. 

John Joseph Tuchi: Nominee for the United States District Court for the District of Arizona

John Joseph Tuchi has been an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Arizona since 1998.  He currently serves as Chief Assistant United States Attorney in the office and has previously served as Interim United States Attorney in 2009, Senior Litigation Counsel and Tribal Liaison from 2009 to 2012, and as Chief of the Criminal Division from 2006 to 2009.  Tuchi also worked as an associate at the law firm of Brown & Bain, P.A. from 1995 to 1998.  He began his legal career as a law clerk for Judge William C. Canby of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.  Tuchi received his J.D. magna cum laude in 1994 from Arizona State University College of Law, his M.S. in 1989 from the University of Arizona, and his B.S. in 1987 from West Virginia University.