Two LA-Area Attorneys Nominated to Federal Bench

President Clinton on Thursday nominated two local lawyers for positions as federal district judges in Los Angeles.

Clinton tapped labor lawyer Dolly M. Gee, currently a partner at Los Angeles’ Schwartz, Steinsapir, Dohrmann & Sommers, and public interest attorney Fredric D. Woocher of Santa Monica’s Strumwasser and Woocher.

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) had recommended both Gee, 39, a 1984 UCLA Law School graduate, and Woocher, 48, a 1978 Stanford Law School graduate, to Clinton.

If confirmed, Gee would become the first Chinese American woman to serve on the federal bench.

However, both Gee and Woocher may face a lengthy delay in gaining confirmation. Due to a dispute between the White House and Sen. Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), the committee has held no confirmation hearings for any federal judges this year.