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Birotte nominated to federal bench

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Andre Birotte, Jr. (68249)
Andre Birotte, Jr.

Andre Birotte Jr. has been nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as a judge in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Birotte, the chief federal prosecutor for Los Angeles County, has made news over the past year overseeing a number of high-profile investigations into the Los Angeles County jails, State Sen. Ronald S. Calderon, former Countrywide Financial Chairman Angelo R. Mozilo and even former cycling champion Lance Armstrong. He also reinstated a public corruption and civil rights unit that was disbanded by his predecessor. Birotte joins Randolph D. Moss in receiving the nominations to the federal bench. Moss was selected to serve in Washington, D.C.

“These individuals have demonstrated the talent, expertise and fair-mindedness Americans expect and deserve from their judicial system,” Obama said, according to an April 3 White House statement. “I am grateful for their willingness to serve and confident that they will apply the law to the utmost impartiality and integrity.”

Birotte, 47, will replace retiring Judge Gary Allen Feess, a Clinton appointee. The nominations now go before the U.S. Senate which will hold confirmation hearings in one week. Birotte was recommended by Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA) who said she has been impressed with his performance in L.A. County. “He has a proud record of excellence and fairness,” Feinstein said in a statement. “I am confident he will serve the people of the Central District very well as a U.S. district judge.”

Birotte is a former Los Angeles County deputy public defender and served as the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) inspector general for six years. When the LAPD was under consent decree in the early 2000s, Birotte was an important, “outside” factor who helped the floundering department right its course. He told Los Angeles Times columnist Pat Morrison last month that a “huge sea change” had taken place.

“It comes from people like Bill Bratton and Charlie Beck who helped to steer this with equal concern [for] accountability and transparency as it is with policing and keeping the community safe,” Birotte said.

Birotte graduated from Tufts University in Massachusetts and received his J.D. from Pepperdine University in Malibu.

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