President nominates new US attorney for Florida

U.S. Attorney A. Lee Bentley III announcing the 'Take 25' campaign in May.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – President Barack Obama on Thursday nominated Arthur Lee Bentley III to be U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Florida, which stretches from Nassau and Duval counties southwest across the state to Collier County.

Bentley has been the acting U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Florida since July 2013 and served as an assistant U.S. Attorney in that office since 2000.

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Previously, Bentley worked at Hogan & Hartson LLP, where he was a partner from 1993 to 2000 and an associate from 1990 to 1992. He worked as special assistant United States attorney in the Southern District of Florida from 1988 to 1989 and was an attorney advisor in the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel from 1985 to 1987.

Bentley began his legal career as a law clerk for Justice Lewis F. Powell of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1984 to 1985 and for Judge Clement F. Haynsworth, Jr. of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit from 1983 to 1984. He received his J.D. in 1983 from the University of Virginia School of Law and his B.B.A. in 1980 from the University of Georgia.

Obama on Tuesday also appointed David Rivera to serve as U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee.

"These two men have proven themselves to be not only top-flight attorneys but dedicated public servants," Obama said in a release. "I am grateful for the work they have already done on behalf of the American people and confident that they will ensure justice is served as United States Attorneys."