With the backing of New York's senior senator, William Hochul has been nominated to serve as the United States Attorney for the Western District of New York.
Hochul was recommended by Sen. Charles Schumer, who is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee that has jurisdiction over all United States Attorney confirmations. Schumer submitted Hochul's name to President Obama.
Hochul is currently an assistant United States Attorney and head of the Western District's National Security Division. He has prosecuted some of the region's highest profile cases, including the corruption trials concerning Laborers Local 91 and the Lackawanna Six.
The Western District United States Attorney position has been vacant since Terrance Flynn, the immediate past district United States Attorney, resigned his post and joined the Harris Beach LLC law firm. Flynn was named to the federal post by former President Bush in 2006.
The Western District is a sweeping region that includes Erie, Niagara, Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates counties.
Hochul has served the Western District since 1991.
"Mr. Hochul has had a long and distinguished career in public service," Schumer said. "His exceptional, innovative legal mind, his commitment to justice, and his extensive experience will make him an outstanding U.S. Attorney for the Western District."
Hochul is the husband of Erie County Clerk Kathleen Hochul.
Before serving the Western District office, which is based out of downtown Buffalo, Hochul was an assistant United States Attorney in Washington. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1981 and his law degree from the University at Buffalo in 1984. Hochul is a past winner of the Attorney General's Award for Exceptional Service.