David Lopez became the first General Counsel of the EEOC appointed from the ranks of field attorneys when he was sworn in April 8 by Judge William Canby, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge.  Lopez was nominated by President Obama on October 22, 2009 and received a recess appointment on March 27, 2010.  He will serve until the end of the Congressional session in 2011, absent confirmation by the Senate.  Lopez began his career at the EEOC working for Chairman Gilbert Casellas as a Special Assistant.  For the past 12 years, Lopez has served as a Senior Trial Attorney and a Supervisory Trial Attorney in EEOC’s Phoenix District Office where he has successfully litigated many high-profile cases on a wide variety of legal cases.  In particular, Lopez was lead counsel in EEOC v. Alamo Rent-A-Car, a post-9/11 religious discrimination case, where a jury entered a verdict against Alamo.  “P. David Lopez Sworn in as General Counsel of the EEOC,” EEOC Press Release, 4/8/10.

Jacqueline Berrien, former Associate Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund was sworn in yesterday as the new Chair of the EEOC.  She was nominated by President Obama on July 16, 2009.  The President signed a recess appointment for her on March 27, 2010 which permits her to serve until the end of the Congressional session in 2011 unless she is confirmed by the Senate for a full term. 

Chai Feldblum, former Georgetown University law professor, was sworn in yesterday as a Commissioner by Jacqueline Berrien, following her own swearing in as the new Chair.   She was nominated by President Obama on September 15, 2009 and received a recess appointment on March 27, 2010.  She will serve until the end of the Congressional session in 2011 absent confirmation by the Senate.  Among her other professional accomplishments, Feldblum has been a leading scholar and public intellectual in the efforts to achieve equality for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgender people.  She will be the first open lesbian to serve as a Commissioner of the EEOC.

Victoria Lipnic, who was also given a recess appointment, will be sworn in later in April.  General Counsel P. David Lopez, another recess appointment is expected to be sworn in later today.

 “Jacqueline A. Berrien Becomes Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission,” EEOC Press Release, 4/7/10.  “Chai Feldblum Sworn in as a Commissioner of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission,” EEOC Press Release, 4/7/10.

The White House has announced that it intends to nominate P. David Lopez as General Counsel for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).  Lopez has served at the EEOC for 13 years in the field and at headquarters.  He is currently a Supervisory Trial Attorney with the EEOC’s Phoenix District Office.  Lopez received his law degree from Harvard Law School.  “President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts,” White House Press Release, 10/22/09.