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Briefing Room

The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
February 04, 2015

President Obama Nominates Two to Serve on the United States District Courts

WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, President Obama nominated Waverly D. Crenshaw Jr. and Lawrence Joseph Vilardo to serve on the United States District Courts.

“I am honored to put forward these highly qualified candidates for the federal bench,” President Obama said.  “They will be distinguished public servants and valuable additions to the United States District Court.”

Waverly D. Crenshaw Jr.: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee

Waverly D. Crenshaw Jr. has been a partner at Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP since 1994, where his practice focuses on labor and employment issues.  From 1990 to 1994, he was an associate at Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP, and from 1987 to 1990, he was an associate at Passino, Delaney & Hildebrand.  From 1984 to 1987, Crenshaw served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Tennessee, where he worked on antitrust and consumer protection litigation.  He served as a law clerk to Judge John T. Nixon of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee from 1982 to 1984.  Crenshaw began his legal career by serving as a law clerk on the Chancery Court for Davidson County, Tennessee from 1981 to 1982.  He received his J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1981 and his B.A. from Vanderbilt University in 1978. 

Lawrence Joseph Vilardo: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Western District of New York

Lawrence Joseph Vilardo has been a partner at Connors & Vilardo, LLP since 1986, where he handles a wide range of civil and criminal matters at both the trial and appellate levels.  Previously, he was an associate at the law firm of Damon Morey LLP from 1981 to 1986. Vilardo began his legal career by serving as a law clerk to Judge Irving L. Goldberg of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit from 1980 to 1981. He received his J.D. magna cum laude in 1980 from Harvard Law School and his B.A. summa cum laude in 1977 from Canisius College.