A article was written today in the Philadelphia Inquirer. President Obama, will be anouncing who, will be our next US Attorney General for the PA area. I have waited patiently for justice. As a Advocate and a survivor of Domestic Violence, I trully feel this is a blessing. It does not matter to me if the new US Attorney General is White, Black, Hispanic or even asian. I just want my voice to be heard and that I will finally receive my justice.
Crowded field of Phila. U.S. attorney candidates
By Emilie Lounsberry
Inquirer Staff Writer
With a new temporary U.S. attorney in office, the search will soon swing into high gear for a top federal prosecutor in Philadelphia, and former prosecutors, a state Supreme Court justice, and District Attorney Lynne M. Abraham have all expressed interest in the position.
President Obama will make the formal nomination, but U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D., Pa.) will make a recommendation. U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, who left the GOP last month to become a Democrat, will also offer input.
Obama has named a handful of U.S. attorneys nationwide, but the process in Pennsylvania is still in the early stages. It is unclear when the appointment will be made.
Casey recently set a June 5 deadline for anyone interested in the job to complete an extensive questionnaire available on his Senate Web site. In addition to the Philadelphia office, two other U.S. attorneys will be selected for the Western and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia's new interim U.S. attorney, Michael L. Levy, who has spent most of his legal career in the federal office, is said to be interested in the nomination, as are several former prosecutors from the office, including Elizabeth K. Ainslie, James J. Eisenhower, J. Huntley Palmer, and Philadelphia Inspector General Amy Kurland.
Other Democrats seeking the nomination include state Supreme Court Justice Jane Cutler Greenspan, Abraham, and A. Roy DeCaro, a former federal prosecutor and assistant district attorney. Assistant U.S. Attorney L.C. Wright, a longtime prosecutor still in the office, also is said to be interested.
Levy, who most recently headed the unit that handles computer crimes and child pornography, was installed as interim U.S. attorney late last week by the Justice Department to replace Laurie Magid, a Republican who became U.S. attorney when Patrick Meehan resigned last summer to explore a possible GOP run for governor.
Magid will remain in the office handling appeals.
The Justice Department's inspector general has been examining a fund-raiser held this year at Magid's home and hosted by her husband for Meehan, as well as an earlier fund-raiser for Specter, according to people familiar with the inquiry.
The Justice Department recently completed a routine evaluation of the office during which prosecutors and some judges raised questions about Magid, according to people with knowledge of the process.
Levy is highly regarded by prosecutors and judges, and is expected to receive wide support from the board of judges of U.S. District Court, which is scheduled to meet next week.
Levy received a standing ovation during a staff meeting - his first - Tuesday.
Though most potential candidates for the job declined to discuss the matter, Kurland, who would not say whether she would apply, said she was honored that her name had even come up. "There's no better job than to be the U.S. attorney," she said. "It's a dream job."
The U.S. attorney brings criminal and civil actions on behalf of the federal government in the nine-county area of Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Northampton, Lancaster and Berks Counties. The office recently prosecuted former State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo, who was convicted on 137 corruption counts.
Contact staff writer Emilie Lounsberry at 215-854-4828 or elounsberry@phillynews.com.
phillycom:http://www.philly.com/philly/news/46347777.html
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