Durkan nominated to be U.S. Attorney for Western Washington

Seattle attorney Jenny Durkan, formerly executive counsel for Gov. Chris Gregoire, has been nominated by President Obama to be U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington.

She replaces Jeffrey Sullivan, who was appointed full-time to the job in September 2007. Sullivan replaced John McKay, who was dismissed along with seven other U.S. Attorneys around the country in a controversial Bush administration decision.

Durkan served on the Seattle Police Firearms Review Board and on the Mayor???s Panel on Police Practices.

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Gregoire praised the choice of Durkan, which still must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

???Washington state???s judicial system and the public will be well served by Jenny Durkan as head of the U.S. Attorney???s Office for the Western District of Washington. Jenny is known for her wide-ranging legal experience and her successful criminal and civil litigation practice. In addition, she is highly regarded for her civic leadership,??? Gregoire said in a statement.

Durkan???s web page says that ???Durkan is not just respected for obtaining favorable verdicts and multimillion- dollar settlements, but also for her ability to resolve sensitive cases discreetly... She mentors local high school students and loves gardening and sports.???