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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release May 11, 1998

THE PRESIDENT NOMINATES THREE TO THE FEDERAL BENCH

The President today nominated Virginia A. Phillips to serve as a United States District Court Judge for the Central District of California, Raner C. Collins to serve as a United States District Court Judge for the District of Arizona and Robert S. Lasnik to serve as a United States District Court Judge for the Western District of Washington.

Virginia A. Phillips, Central District of California

Judge Virginia Phillips, of Riverside, California, received her B.A. degree from the University of California at Riverside in 1979, and her J.D. degree from the University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law in 1982. Following law school, Judge Phillips was an associate (1982-88) and partner (1988-91) with the law firm of Best, Best and Krieger. Judge Phillips then served as a Superior Court Commissioner for the Riverside Superior Court from 1991 to 1995. Since 1995, she has served as a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Central District of California.

Raner Christercunean Collins, District of Arizona

Judge Raner Collins, of Tucson, Arizona, received his undergraduate degree from Arkansas Polytechnic College in 1973, and his J.D. degree from the University of Arizona College of Law in 1975. Judge Collins served as a law clerk from 1975 to 1976, and trial attorney from 1975 to 1981, for the Pima County Attorney's Office. He was a City Magistrate for the City of Tucson from 1981 to 1983, a County Attorney with the Pima County Attorney's Office from 1983 to 1985, and a Pima County Superior Court Judge Pro Tempore from 1985 to 1988. Since 1988, Judge Collins has served as a Superior Court Judge for Pima County.

Robert S. Lasnik, Western District of Washington

Judge Robert Lasnik, of Seattle, Washington, received his undergraduate degree from Brandeis University in 1972, a masters degree in Journalism in 1973, a masters degree in Education from Northwestern University in 1974, and a J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law in 1978. Following law school, Judge Lasnik served in the King County Prosecutor's Office as a Deputy Prosecutor from 1978 to 1981, Senior Deputy Prosecutor from 1981 to 1983, and Chief of Staff from 1983to 1990. Since 1990, Judge Lasnik has served as a Superior Court Judge on the King County Superior Court.

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