Press Release - President Obama Nominates Six to Serve as U.S. Attorneys

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Obama nominated Dana J. Boente, Robert L. Capers, John P. Fishwick, Jr., Channing D. Phillips, Emily Gray Rice and Randolph J. Seiler to serve as U.S. Attorneys.

"Through their dedication and accomplishments, these fine attorneys have distinguished themselves as some of the best and brightest their profession has to offer," President Obama said. "I am honored to nominate them as United States Attorneys and know that they will faithfully and tirelessly pursue justice on behalf of the American people."

Dana J. Boente: Nominee for United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia

Dana J. Boente has served in the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia since 2000. Currently, Boente serves as the Acting United States Attorney, a position he has held since 2013 and from 2008 to 2009, as well as First Assistant United States Attorney, a position he has held since 2007. While at the United States Attorney's Office, he served as the Interim United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana from December 2012 to September 2013 and, while on detail, as the Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Tax Division of the United States Department of Justice from 2005 to 2007. From 1984 to 2000, he served as a Trial Attorney in in the Tax Division of the United States Department of Justice. Boente began his legal career as a clerk for the Honorable J. Waldo Ackerman of the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois from 1982 to 1984. He received his J.D. magna cum laude in 1982 from St. Louis University School of Law, and his M.B.A in 1977 and B.S.B.A. cum laude in 1976, both from St. Louis University.

Robert L. Capers: Nominee for United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York

Robert L. Capers has served in the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York since 2003, where he currently serves as Senior Litigation Counsel in the Public Integrity Section, a position he has held since 2012. During his time in the office, Capers has held several management positions including Chief of the Narcotics Section and International Narcotics Strike Force from 2009 to 2012, Deputy Chief of the Narcotic Section from 2008 to 2009, and Acting Deputy Chief of the General Crimes Section in 2008. In addition, while on detail to the United States Department of Justice from 2011 to 2012, he served as Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division's Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section. Prior to joining the United States Attorney's Office, Capers served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Special Investigations Bureau with the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for New York City from 2000 to 2003. Capers began his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney's Office from 1996 to 2000. He received his J.D. in 1996 from Albany Law School and his B.A. in 1992 from New York University.

John P. Fishwick, Jr.: Nominee for United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia

John P. Fishwick, Jr. has been a partner in the Virginia law firm of LichtensteinFishwick PLC and its predecessor firms since 1996, where he practices both civil and criminal litigation. Prior to that, he was a partner in the law firms of Fishwick, Jones & Glenn from 1992 to 1995, Fishwick & Jones from 1991 to 1992, and Fishwick & Young from 1988 to 1989. From 1984 to 1986 he was an associate at McGuire Woods. Fishwick was a solo practitioner from 1989 to 1991 and 1986 to 1988. Fishwick clerked for the Honorable James C. Turk of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia from 1983 to1984. He received his J.D. cum laude in 1983 from Washington and Lee University School of Law and his B.A. in 1979 from Harvard University.

Channing D. Phillips: Nominee for United States Attorney for the District of Columbia

Channing D. Phillips has served as Senior Counselor and Deputy Assistant Associate General in the Office of the Attorney General in the United States Department of Justice since 2010. From 1994 to 2010, Phillips served in the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, where he held a number of managerial positions including Acting United States Attorney, Principal Assistant United States Attorney, Chief of Staff to the United States Attorney, and Special Counsel. Prior to that, Phillips worked as a Trial Attorney in the Department of Justice's Organized Crime and Racketeering Section from 1990 to 1994. From 1987 to 1990, Phillips clerked for the Honorable Shellie F. Bowers, Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Phillips began his legal career in 1986 at the law firm of Morgan Associates. He received his J.D. in 1986 from Howard University School of Law and his B.A. in 1980 from the University of Virginia.

Emily Gray Rice: Nominee for United States Attorney for the District of New Hampshire

Emily Gray Rice has been a shareholder in the law firm of Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson, P.A. since 2012, where she practices civil litigation in a variety of subject matters. From 2001 to 2012, she was a shareholder in the law firm of Orr & Reno, P.A. From 1993 to 2001, Rice worked at the law firm of Dean, Rice & Kane, P.A., where she was elevated to shareholder in 1995. From 1984 to 1993, she served in the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office in the Bureau of Civil Law, where she served as Senior Assistant Attorney General and Chief of the Bureau of Civil Law from 1989 to 1993. Rice received her J.D. in 1984 from Northeastern University School of Law, her M.A. in 1979 from Boston University, and her B.A. cum laude in 1977 from Boston University.

Randolph J. Seiler: Nominee for United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota

Randolph J. Seiler has served in the United States Attorney's Office for the District of South Dakota since 1995, and he has served as the Acting United States Attorney since March 2015. Prior to that, he served as the First Assistant United States Attorney from 2009 to March 2015. While at the U.S. Attorney's Office, Seiler served a ten-month detail in 2008 as Counsel to the Director in the Executive Office for United States Attorneys. From 1981 to 1994, he was in private practice at the law firm of Seiler & Cain. Seiler began his legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Fred J. Nichol of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota. He served in the United States Air Force from 1966 to 1970. Seiler received his J.D. in 1980 from the University of South Dakota School of Law and his B.S. cum laude in 1973 from the University of Nebraska.