Obama Nominates Mary Jo White

Who Is Mary Jo White?

Yesterday, January 25, 2013, Senator John Kerry was undergoing Senate Confirmation Hearings regarding his nomination for Secretary of State.  We all know him from his candidacy for President in 2004.  He is expected to easily receive approval.

President Obama also announced the nomination of Mary Jo White for Chairwoman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  So who is she?

She was the first woman to serve as a U.S. attorney in New York.  She also won cases against both the World Trade Center bombers, and mob boss John Gotti.

Now, 65 years old, she has both prosecuted and defended white collar crime.  Her nomination is expected to ease criticism that the SEC has not been tough enough overseeing Wall Street and the Banking Industry.

Her nomination is also expected to satisfy some complaints that Obama’s administration is male dominated.

“Appointing a tough-as-nails former prosecutor like Mary Jo White responds to both of those concerns,” says John Coffee, a law professor at Columbia University whose legal focus includes securities regulation.

James Turnage

Columnist-The Guardian Express