President
Obama made historic pick on Friday by naming first openly gay Seattle Attorney
Jenny Durkan as the next US Attorney for the Western District of Washington, according to the
Advocate.
Durkan, one of six people nominated by President Obama for a position as U.S. Attorney, is now subject to U.S. Senate confirmation. She would replace Jeff Sullivan, a Republican named to the position by the district's federal judges after John McKay was controversially fired by the Bush administration.
A graduate of Notre Dame and the University of Washington Law School, and the daughter of late state Sen. Martin Durkan, Durkan is best known by the public at large for playing a lead role in Governor Chris Gregoire's
campaign for attorney general in 1992. She continued to provide counsel through Gregoire's election in the 2004 governor's race, which Gregoire won after two recounts and a court case. She also was counsel to Gregoire's reelection campaign last year.
Durkan, a razor-sharp, powerful, and highly accomplished attorney whose formidable legal and political skills are tempered by a engaging, down to earth personality, has continuously demonstrated a willingness to work across party lines.
"It is an incredible honor to be nominated for this office and the opportunity to serve our state and country," said Durkan in an e-mail.
According to the
Seattle Times, Durkan's nomination marks another milestone for the gay community as she is believed to be the first openly gay U.S. Attorney.
Durkan, 51, lives in Seattle with her longtime partner and their two sons.
