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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary


For Immediate Release August 5, 1999
                PRESIDENT CLINTON NAMES MELVIN W. KAHLE 
                     AS UNITED STATES ATTORNEY FOR
                 THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF WEST VIRGINIA

The President today announced his intent to nominate Melvin W. Kahle to serve as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia.

Mr. Melvin W. Kahle, of Wheeling, West Virginia, is currently Prosecuting Attorney of Ohio County, West Virginia, a position he has held since 1993. As the county's chief law enforcement official, he oversees all criminal and civil legal matters, including litigation, in the State of West Virginia involving Ohio County. Mr. Kahle previously served for 12 years as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Ohio County, handling a variety of civil and criminal cases. Between 1971 and 1993, he also had his own general, civil law practice concentrating on personal injuries, real estate, workers' compensation, social security matters, and corporate law. From 1965-1971, Mr. Kahle was special counsel to the West Virginia Commissioner of Finance and Administration, directing all state property leases. He served in the United States Air Force, first as a navigator/radar intercept officer from 1958-1961 with the 444th Fighter Intercept Squadron, and, between 1967-1974, as a Judge Advocate General Officer holding the rank of Major with the USAF Reserves. Mr. Kahle was president of the Ohio County Board of Education from 1988-1992, and currently serves as chairman of the Ohio County Schools Master Plan Committee. He has also been a member of the Y.M.C.A. Board of Directors, a number of community groups, and youth athletic organizations. Mr. Kahle is a member of the West Virginia State Bar, the Ohio County Bar, and the American Bar Association.

He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1958 from West Virginia University, and a J.D. degree in 1964 from Cleveland-Marshall Law School. Mr. Kahle is a life-long resident of West Virginia.

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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