Jenny Durkan
Encyclopedia
Jenny Anne Durkan is an American lawyer
from Seattle, Washington
who serves as the United States Attorney
for the Western District of Washington
.
and attended a private Catholic girls school. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame
in 1980. After graduating from Notre Dame, Durkan moved to an Eskimo fishing village on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta
in Alaska, where she taught English and coached a girls basketball team.
Durkan earned her law degree from the University of Washington School of Law
in 1985. "I wanted to be a lawyer since I was 5 years old," she told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
in 1992. "When I graduated from law school, my mother said, 'Finally someone is going to pay you to argue."'
in Washington, D.C.
In 1991, Durkan joined the law firm of Schroeter, Goldmark & Bender. In September 1994, Durkan left the Schroeter law firm to join the staff of then-Washington Gov. Mike Lowry
as his lawyer and political adviser. In February of the following year, Durkan resigned and returned to the Schroeter law firm after allegations of sexual harassment against Lowry by one of his top aides, former press aide Susanne Albright.
After rejoining the Schroeter law firm, Durkan became the lawyer for Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire
.
In 1997, Durkan set up her own firm, the Law Offices of Jenny Durkan.
nominated Durkan to be the U.S Attorney for the Western District of Washington, which covers 19 counties and is home to 4.6 million people (78% of the state's population). She was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate
on September 29, 2009 and was sworn in on October 1 by Chief U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik
.
, including Governor Christine Gregoire
. She is a daughter of Martin Durkan, a former member of the Washington State Senate
who twice—in 1968 and 1972—was a candidate for Governor of Washington but lost both times in the Democratic primaries.
Durkan is a lesbian. She and her partner, Dana Garvey, live in Seattle and have two sons. She was the first openly gay U.S. Attorney and now serves as one of four, alongside Anne Tompkins
of the Western District of North Carolina, Laura Duffy
of the Southern District of California
, and Robert L. Pitman
of the Western District of Texas.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
from Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
who serves as the United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
for the Western District of Washington
United States District Court for the Western District of Washington
The United States District Court for the Western District of Washington is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the following counties of the state of Washington: Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, San Juan,...
.
Early life and education
Durkan grew up in Issaquah, WashingtonIssaquah, Washington
Issaquah is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 30,434 at the 2010 census.Based on per capita income, Issaquah ranks 25th of 522 areas in the State of Washington to be ranked....
and attended a private Catholic girls school. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
in 1980. After graduating from Notre Dame, Durkan moved to an Eskimo fishing village on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta
Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta
The Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta is one of the largest river deltas in the world, roughly the size of Oregon. It is located where the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers empty into the Bering Sea on the west coast of the U.S. state of Alaska. The delta, which mostly consists of tundra, is protected as part of the...
in Alaska, where she taught English and coached a girls basketball team.
Durkan earned her law degree from the University of Washington School of Law
University of Washington School of Law
The University of Washington School of Law is the law school of the University of Washington, located on the northwest corner of the main campus in Seattle, Washington.The most recent 2012 U.S...
in 1985. "I wanted to be a lawyer since I was 5 years old," she told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer is an online newspaper and former print newspaper covering Seattle, Washington, United States, and the surrounding metropolitan area...
in 1992. "When I graduated from law school, my mother said, 'Finally someone is going to pay you to argue."'
Professional career
Immediately upon graduating from law school in 1985, Durkan began her legal career at the Foster, Pepper & Shefelman law firm as a civil litigator, where she spent two years. She then joined the large law firm of Williams & ConnollyWilliams & Connolly
Williams & Connolly LLP is a prominent litigation firm based in Washington, D.C. The firm was founded by trial lawyer Edward Bennett Williams, who left the partnership of D.C. firm Hogan & Hartson to launch his own litigation boutique....
in Washington, D.C.
In 1991, Durkan joined the law firm of Schroeter, Goldmark & Bender. In September 1994, Durkan left the Schroeter law firm to join the staff of then-Washington Gov. Mike Lowry
Mike Lowry
Michael Edward "Mike" Lowry served as the 20th Governor of the U.S. state of Washington from 1993 to 1997. Lowry is a Democrat.Lowry was born and raised in St. John, Washington, and graduated from Washington State University in 1962...
as his lawyer and political adviser. In February of the following year, Durkan resigned and returned to the Schroeter law firm after allegations of sexual harassment against Lowry by one of his top aides, former press aide Susanne Albright.
After rejoining the Schroeter law firm, Durkan became the lawyer for Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire
Christine Gregoire
Christine O'Grady "Chris" Gregoire is the 22nd and current Governor of the state of Washington, and a member of the Democratic Party. Gregoire defeated Republican candidate Dino Rossi in 2004, and again in 2008. She is the second female governor of Washington...
.
In 1997, Durkan set up her own firm, the Law Offices of Jenny Durkan.
Work as a United States Attorney
In May 2009, President Barack ObamaBarack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
nominated Durkan to be the U.S Attorney for the Western District of Washington, which covers 19 counties and is home to 4.6 million people (78% of the state's population). She was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on September 29, 2009 and was sworn in on October 1 by Chief U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik
Robert S. Lasnik
Robert S. Lasnik is a United States federal judge, currently serving as Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington....
.
Personal
A member of a prominent political family, Durkan has close ties to many of the state's leading DemocratsDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, including Governor Christine Gregoire
Christine Gregoire
Christine O'Grady "Chris" Gregoire is the 22nd and current Governor of the state of Washington, and a member of the Democratic Party. Gregoire defeated Republican candidate Dino Rossi in 2004, and again in 2008. She is the second female governor of Washington...
. She is a daughter of Martin Durkan, a former member of the Washington State Senate
Washington State Senate
The Washington State Senate is the upper house of the Washington State Legislature. The body consists of 49 senators, each representing a district with a population of nearly 120,000. The State Senate meets at the Legislative Building in Olympia....
who twice—in 1968 and 1972—was a candidate for Governor of Washington but lost both times in the Democratic primaries.
Durkan is a lesbian. She and her partner, Dana Garvey, live in Seattle and have two sons. She was the first openly gay U.S. Attorney and now serves as one of four, alongside Anne Tompkins
Anne Tompkins
Anne Magee Tompkins is an American lawyer who serves as the United States Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.- Early life and education :...
of the Western District of North Carolina, Laura Duffy
Laura Duffy
Laura Elizabeth Duffy is an American lawyer who serves as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of California.- Early life and education :...
of the Southern District of California
United States Attorney for the Southern District of California
The United States Attorney for the Southern District of California is the United States Attorney responsible for representing the federal government in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California....
, and Robert L. Pitman
Robert L. Pitman
Robert Lee Pitman is an American lawyer who serves as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas. He was previously a magistrate judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas.-Early life and education:...
of the Western District of Texas.