Whaley Chosen To Become Federal Judge

President Clinton has nominated a Spokane County Superior Court judge to be a U.S. District judge for Eastern Washington.

Robert H. Whaley, 53, will succeed Judge Justin Quackenbush, who is moving to senior status in June.

Whaley is a former assistant U.S. attorney and worked as litigator with the land and natural resources division of the U.S. Justice Department.

He was in private practice with the Spokane firm of Winston-Cashatt before being nominated in 1992 to become a Superior Court judge.

He was recommended to the federal bench by U.S. Sens. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Slade Gorton, R-Wash. He must be confirmed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The lifetime federal judge job pays $134,000 a year.