THE WHITE HOUSE

                     Office of the Press Secretary
                          (Detroit, Michigan)
________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                    January 8, 1999

             PRESIDENT CLINTON NAMES THOMAS LEE STRICKLAND 
         AS UNITED STATES ATTORNEY FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO

The President today announced the nomination of Thomas Lee Strickland to serve as United States Attorney for the District of Colorado.

Mr. Thomas Lee Strickland, of Denver, Colorado, is currently a senior partner at a Denver, Colorado law firm where he heads a public law group, develops litigation strategy, and provides legal training. From 1982 to 1984, Strickland was the chief policy advisor to former Colorado Governor Richard Lamm. He provided guidance and counsel on criminal justice matters, including crime prevention, sentencing, victims' rights, and judicial nominees, and worked with community leaders on social and criminal justice system policy matters. Prior to joining the Governor's Office, Strickland worked for three years with a private law firm handling regulatory and administrative law issues, as well as litigation. His other professional legal experience includes two years as a federal district court clerk in the Southern District of Texas.

Mr. Strickland was the 1996 Colorado Democratic nominee for the United States Senate. His civic involvement includes membership on the Colorado Transportation Commission, development of a road beautification program encouraging the participation of inner-city youth, and serving on the board of the Colorado Children's Campaign, which focuses on issues such as juvenile crime, education, and child health care. He has also worked with several environmental organizations, including the Environmental Defense Fund-Rocky Mountain Advisory Board, and was on the board of the Greater Denver Chamber of Commerce from 1985 to 1989.

Mr. Strickland is a member of the Colorado State Bar Association and the Texas State Bar Association. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1974 from Louisiana State University and his law degree in 1977 from the University of Texas School of Law.

United States Attorneys are the chief federal prosecutors and law enforcement officers for the 94 federal judicial districts. They have principal responsibility for the prosecution of federal matters in their district.

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