(Lorna Schofield , photo courtesy of thefilam.net)
Schumer Recommended Schofield to President Obama in January; Schofield is an NYU Law Grad, Assistant US Attorney and Lawyer At Debevoise & Plimpton
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Schofield is First-Ever Filipina American on the Federal Bench
Schumer: Schofield’s Experience and Devotion to Public Service Confirm That She is Going to Be an Excellent Judge
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) announced today that Lorna G. Schofield, whom Schumer recommended to President Obama in January, has been confirmed to serve as a judge on the prestigious United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. As a graduate of NYU Law School, former Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and a partner at one of the nation’s most prestigious law firms, Ms. Schofield, who is of Filipino heritage, was also the first Asian-American to be elected chair of the ABA Section of Litigation. Ms. Schofield is the first ever Filipina on the federal bench.
“Ms. Schofield’s wealth of experience and devotion to public services make it clear that she will be an excellent judge,” said Schumer. “Ms. Schofield has proven time and again that she is a leader and I have every confidence that she will serve her jurisdiction well. As the first Filipina on the federal bench, Ms. Schofield’s personal background and life experience will help broaden the perspective of the federal bench”
Schofield, 56, graduated from Indiana University magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, and from NYU Law School, where she served as staff editor and note-and-comment editor of the NYU Law Review. Schofield then went to work at the law firm of Clearly, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton. She then left to work as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, where she worked as a prosecutor on cases involving domestic terrorism, arms smuggling and tax fraud. After four years, Schofield left to work at Debevoise & Plimpton, where she made partner in 1991. At the firm, she worked on civil cases as well as white collar crime.
Since 2006, Schofield has been a Director of Rosie’s for All Kids Foundation, which provides non-profit organizations funding for at-risk children, parents, care-givers and teachers.
Below are Schumer’s remarks, as prepared, given before the vote:
• Mr./Madam President, I am extremely pleased to rise today in enthusiastic support the nomination of Lorna Schofield to the federal bench in the Southern District of New York.
• I have had the privilege to recommend a number of truly outstanding nominees to become judges in New York—in fact, 15 nominees—and Ms. Schofield is among the best. She is the embodiment of the three qualities I always search for in a judge: excellence, moderation, and diversity.
• First, excellence: her professional resume puts her right at the top of her field. She went to Indiana University for her undergraduate studies, and then came to New York to study law at one of the nation’s best schools, NYU Law School, where she graduated as one of the top 15 students in her class.
• She went on to serve the public as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York, and then to join the top law firm of Debevoise and Plimpton, where she’s been in private practice for nearly 25 years.
• Ms. Schofield has a wealth of practical experience, having represented and advised all manner of clients in the “real world” of New York City—businesses large and small, as well as individuals.
• As a true generalist, she’s tried a wide array of cases, and her professional accomplishments and accolades are numerous, including serving as the head of the litigation section—the largest section -- of the American Bar Association. Ms. Schofield was, in fact, a pioneer in this position, as the first Asian-American to hold the prestigious post.
• Second, on the point of moderation: When I met with Ms. Schofield, I was struck by the fact that she has one, singular agenda – the preservation of the rule of law.
• Indeed, her professional work has been devoted to the general improvement of the practice of law, and to zealously representing her clients in the best and most ethical traditions of the profession. Evidence of her moderation can be found in the support she has across the political spectrum – both Democrats and Republicans have called me to tell me what a great judge she’d make. She has done everything from teaching trial advocacy to performing pro bono work for the Women’s Prison Association.
• Finally, to address diversity: Ms. Schofield’s personal background and life experience will help broaden the perspective of the federal bench. Most notably, if confirmed, she will be the first Filipina judge (man or woman) to sit on the federal bench.
• In conclusion, I believe Ms. Schofield will make a terrific judge, and I look forward to her confirmation vote today.
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