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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary


For Immediate Release June 8, 1994

PRESIDENT CLINTON NAMES FOUR TO THE FEDERAL BENCH

The President announced today the nominations of four individuals as federal judges. He nominated James L. Dennis to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and announced the following U.S. District Court nominees: Napoleon A. Jones, Jr., for the Southern District of California; David F. Hamilton for the Southern District of Indiana; and Sarah S. Vance for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

"Each of these individuals has demonstrated both excellence in the legal profession and commitment to public service," the President said.

James L. Dennis, 58, has dedicated his public life to serving the State of Louisiana. Since his election in 1975, he has served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Louisiana. From 1974 to 1975, Dennis served on the Louisiana Court of Appeals; and from 1972 to 1974, he served on the Louisiana District Court. While on the District Court, Dennis served as Chair of the Judiciary Committee of the Louisiana Constitutional Convention in 1973 and 1974. From 1968 to 1972, Dennis served in the Louisiana House of Representatives.

James Dennis graduated from Louisiana Tech University after serving two years of active duty in the U.S. Army. He earned his J.D. degree from Louisiana State University Law School, where he was managing editor of the law review and was awarded the Order of the Coif. He earned his LL.M. degree from the University of Virginia Law School. Prior to his public service, Dennis practiced law in Monroe, Louisiana, where he was a partner with the firm of Hudson, Potts & Bernstein. Dennis and his wife, Camille Dennis, live in New Orleans and have four grown sons.

Napoleon A. Jones, Jr., 53, has served on the Superior Court of San Diego since 1982. Previously, he served for five years on San Diego's Municipal Court. He has worked in private practice, as a staff attorney for Defenders, Inc., and as a staff attorney for California Rural Legal Assistance. Jones was recently honored with the 1993 Judge of the Year Award presented by the California Association of Black Lawyers. Jones earned his B.A. and M.S.W. degrees from San Diego State University; he earned his J.D. degree from the University of San Diego. He and his wife, Rosalyn Baxter-Jones, live in Poway, California.

David F. Hamilton, 37, has practiced law as an associate and later as a partner with the Indianapolis firm of Barnes & Thornburg since 1984. From 1989 to 1991, Hamilton served as counsel to Indiana Governor Evan Bayh. Prior to entering private practice, Hamilton served as a law clerk to Judge Richard Cudahy of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Hamilton graduated from Haverford College and Yale Law School. He and his wife, Brigid Noble Rai, have two children and live in Indianapolis.

Sarah S. Vance, 44, has practiced law as an associate and later as a partner with the New Orleans law firm of Stone, Pigman, Walther, Wittmann & Hutchison since 1978. She graduated from Louisiana State University and Tulane University School of Law. She and her husband, Robert P. Vance, have a son and live in New Orleans.