By MATT CHANDLER
Buffalo Law Journal

By a unanimous vote in the U.S. Senate, attorney William Hochul Jr. was confirmed Thursday as the next U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York.

The vote is the culmination of a 10-month process that began when Sen. Charles Schumer recommended Hochul for the post in May, followed by his nomination by President Obama in December and, finally, his confirmation. It is expected that he will be sworn into office within days.

The University at Buffalo Law School graduate began his legal career in the U.S. Attorney's Office in the District of Columbia in 1987. He left four years later to become an assistant U.S. Attorney in Buffalo.

Hochul said he was "extremely honored" following the confirmation vote.

"While there are many challenges facing us, I will draw on my 23 years of experience as a federal prosecutor to protect our community and to ensure the fair administration of justice," he said.

Though he may be best known for his prosecution of the group that became known as "The Lackawanna Six," Hochul prosecuted cases ranging from organized crime to fraud and narcotics during his career as a prosecutor. He takes over a post that has been vacant since Terrance Flynn resigned to join Harris Beach PLLC.

Kathleen Mehltretter has been serving as the interim U.S. attorney.

"Mr. Hochul has had a long and distinguished career in public service," Schumer said, upon announcing his nomination of Hochul last spring. "His exceptional, innovative legal mind, his commitment to justice, and his extensive experience will make him an outstanding U.S. Attorney for the Western District."

In addition to his more than two decades of experience as a federal prosecutor, Hochul is a former adjunct professor at the University at Buffalo Law School, Niagara University and Hilbert College.