President Obama Nominates Three to Serve on the U.S. Court of Federal Claims

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, President Obama nominated Armando Omar Bonilla, Patricia M. McCarthy, and Judge Jeri Kaylene Somers to serve on the United States Court of Federal Claims.

“Throughout their careers, these individuals have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to public service,” said President Obama.  “It is with full confidence in their ability, integrity, and independence that I nominate them to serve on the Court of Federal Claims.”

Armando Omar Bonilla:  Nominee for the United States Court of Federal Claims

Armando Omar Bonilla currently serves as an Associate Deputy Attorney General in the United States Department of Justice.  Bonilla has worked at the Department of Justice for nearly 20 years: he served as a prosecutor in the Public Integrity Section of the Criminal Division from 2002 to 2010 and in the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section of the Criminal Division from 2001 to 2002, and as a trial and appellate attorney in the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch from 1994 to 2001.  He began his legal career as a law clerk for Judge Garrett E. Brown, Jr. of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey from 1992 to 1994.  Bonilla received his J.D. magna cum laude in 1992 from Seton Hall University School of Law and his B.A. in 1989 from West Virginia University. 

Patricia M. McCarthy:  Nominee for the United States Court of Federal Claims

Patricia M. McCarthy is currently an Assistant Director in the Commercial Litigation Branch of the United States Department of Justice’s Civil Division, a position she has held since 2003.  She joined the Commercial Litigation Branch in 1994 and was promoted to Senior Trial Counsel in 2001.  Over the course of her career, McCarthy has litigated a wide variety of cases before the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the United States Court of Federal Claims, and the United States Court of International Trade.  From 1989 to 1994, McCarthy worked at the law firm of Bingham, Dana & Gould in Boston, Massachusetts.  She received her J.D. in 1989 from Cornell Law School, and her A.B. cum laude in 1984 from Colby College.

Judge Jeri Kaylene Somers:  Nominee for the United States Court of Federal Claims

Judge Jeri Kaylene Somers has served as Vice Chair of the United States Civilian Board of Contract Appeals since 2008 and as a Board Judge since 2007.  Previously, Judge Somers served as an Administrative Judge for the United States Department of Transportation’s Board of Contract Appeals from 2003 to 2007.  From 2001 to 2003, she worked at the law firm of Miller & Chevalier.  Judge Somers served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia from 1994 to 2001 and worked as a Trial Attorney in the Commercial Litigation Branch of the United States Department of Justice’s Civil Division from 1991 to 1994.  Judge Somers began her legal career as a Judge Advocate with the United States Air Force from 1986 to 1991.  She continued her military service until 2007, serving as a Judge Advocate in the United States Air Force Reserves from 1991 to 1993, as a Judge Advocate in the District of Columbia Air National Guard from 1993 to 2004, and as a Military Judge with the United States Air Force Reserves from 2004 to 2007.  She received her J.D. in 1986 from the American University Washington College of Law and her B.A. in 1983 from George Mason University.