Vanessa Waldref Explained

Vanessa Ruth Waldref (born 1980)^[1] is an American lawyer who has served as the United States attorney for the Eastern District of Washington since October 2021.

Early life and education

Waldref is a native of Spokane, Washington. Her sister, Amber Waldref, served as a member of the Spokane City Council.^{[2] [3]} She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgetown University in 2002 and a Juris Doctor from the Georgetown University Law Center in 2008.^[4]

Career

Waldref served as a law clerk for Judge John D. Bates of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. She was an associate at Morrison & Foerster from 2008 to 2010, Lukins & Annis from 2010 to 2011, and Lee & Hayes from 2012 to 2013. She served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington from 2013 to 2020. She has most recently served as a trial attorney in the United States Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division.^[5]

United States attorney

Waldref was nominated to serve as United States attorney for the Eastern District of Washington on July 26, 2021.^[6] On September 23, 2021, her nomination was reported out of committee.^[7] On September 30, 2021, her nomination was confirmed in the United States Senate by voice vote. She was sworn into office on October 7, 2021, by chief judge Stanley Bastian.^[8]

Personal life

Waldref and her husband, Jeff Brogan, have two children and live in Spokane, Washington.^[9]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Questionnaire for Non-Judicial Nominees. United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. October 8, 2021.
2. Web site: Councilwoman Amber Waldref terms out at City Hall, returns to nonprofit work in northeast Spokane The Spokesman-Review. 2021-07-26. www.spokesman.com.
3. Web site: Wise Words with the Waldrefs The Spokesman-Review. 2021-07-26. www.spokesman.com.
4. Web site: Vanessa Waldref of Spokane recommended for Washington U.S. attorney post The Spokesman-Review. 2021-07-26. www.spokesman.com.
5. Web site: 2021-07-26. President Biden Announces Eight Nominees to Serve as U.S. Attorneys. 2021-07-26. The White House. en-US.
6. Web site: 2021-07-26. 8 US attorney picks by Biden would include historic firsts. 2021-07-26. AP NEWS. en.
7. Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Latest Slate of Nominations and Legislation . September 23, 2021 . United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary . Washington, D.C. .
8. Spokane Native Vanessa R. Waldref to be Sworn in as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington . October 6, 2021 . U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Washington . Spokane, Washington . October 7, 2021.
9. Web site: They're enriched by simplicity The Spokesman-Review. 2021-07-26. www.spokesman.com.