André Birotte Jr. | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Central District of California | |
| Assumed office August 8, 2014 | |
| Appointed by | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Gary Allen Feess |
| United States Attorney for theCentral District of California | |
| In office March 4, 2010 – August 8, 2014 | |
| Appointed by | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Thomas P. O'Brien |
| Succeeded by | Stephanie Yonekura |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1966-08-15)August 15, 1966 (age 59) Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Education | Tufts University (BS) Pepperdine University (JD) |
André Birotte Jr.[1] (born August 15, 1966) is aUnited States district judge of theUnited States District Court for the Central District of California and previously served asUnited States Attorney for the Central District of California. On July 22, 2014, theUnited States Senate unanimously confirmed Birotte to serve as a district judge in Los Angeles after being nominated by PresidentBarack Obama.[2]
Birotte was born inNewark, New Jersey, in 1966 toHaitian immigrants.[3][4] Birotte graduated fromTufts University with aBachelor of Science degree in psychology in 1987 and received hisJuris Doctor fromPepperdine University School of Law in 1991.[5][6]
After graduating from law school, Birotte was a deputy public defender in Los Angeles.[1] In 1995, he became anassistant United States attorney.[1] Four years later, he joinedQuinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan where he represented individuals charged withwhite collar crime.[1][6]
Birotte was appointed to the United States Attorney's office by PresidentBarack Obama and confirmed by the Senate in February 2010.[7] He was sworn in on March 4, 2010.[1] JudgeTerry J. Hatter, Jr. administered the oath.[8] Birotte was the first African-American United States attorney for the Central District.[9] He supervised an office of 275 prosecutors.[9][6]
Birotte was the United States attorney investigating charges against former cyclistLance Armstrong for defrauding of the government, drug trafficking, money laundering and conspiracy. He dismissed the case without comment on February 3, 2012. Armstrong reacted to the decision by stating "I am gratified to learn that the U.S. Attorney’s Office is closing its investigation. It is the right decision and I commend them for reaching it."[10] The federal investigation had been ongoing for two years prior to its dismissal by Birotte. On February 5, 2013, Birotte stated that Armstrong's subsequent admission that he took drugs was no reason to reopen the original investigation.[11]
On April 3, 2014, President Obama nominated Birotte to serve as aUnited States district judge of theUnited States District Court for the Central District of California, to the seat vacated byGary Allen Feess, who assumedsenior status on March 13, 2014.[12][13] He received a hearing before theUnited States Senate Judiciary Committee on May 20, 2014.[14] On June 19, 2014, his nomination was reported out of committee by avoice vote.[15] On July 16, 2014, Senate Majority LeaderHarry Reid filed a motion to invokecloture on Birotte nomination. On July 22, 2014, the Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 56–43 vote.[16] Later that day, Birotte was confirmed by a 100–0 vote.[17] He received his judicial commission on August 8, 2014.[6] He was sworn in the same day.[18]
Birotte served as a judge pro tem for theLos Angeles Superior Court. He is a member of theLos Angeles County Bar Association's Judicial Appointments Committee and Criminal Justice Executive Committee. He has taught legal writing and advocacy at theUniversity of Southern California Law School.[1] Earlier in his career, he served as a deputy public defender in Los Angeles and as the inspector general of the Los Angeles Police Department.[19] He served on the board of directors of the Langston Bar Association from 1992 to 2003.[1][6]
Birotte has a wife and three children.[5]
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Central District of California 2014–present | Incumbent |
