Pelosi Names Sandra Strokoff New Legislative Counsel of the House

Pelosi Names Sandra Strokoff New Legislative Counsel of the House

Friday, June 19, 2009

Contact: Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami/Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. - Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced today that she will appoint Sandra Strokoff to be the new Legislative Counsel of the House of Representatives. She is the first woman appointed as Legislative Counsel and will replace the current legislative counsel, Pope Barrow, who is retiring after nearly 40 years of service in the House.

Strokoff has been an attorney on the Legislative Counsel's staff since 1975. Her areas of expertise include patent, copyright, and trademark law; matters relating to the jurisdiction of the federal courts; lobbying and ethics issues; international trade law; and international relations issues. Strokoff is also a professorial lecturer in law at the George Washington University School of Law, teaching Legislative Analysis and Drafting. She has also written the second edition of the Legislative Drafter's Desk Reference (CQ Press, 2008), a comprehensive guide to all aspects of legislative and regulatory drafting.

"Sandra Strokoff has an outstanding record of accomplishment in the Legislative Counsel office," Pelosi said. "As Legislative Counsel, she will use her skills in legislative craftsmanship and management to assist the House throughout the legislative process.”

Pelosi added: â€Å"I also want to commend Pope Barrow for his decades of service to the House of Representatives. He has administered the Legislative Counsel's office with firm guidance and crucial non-partisanship, and he has both modernized the operations of the office and promoted a valuable diversity campaign in seeking new talent.”

Strokoff said: â€Å"It is a great feeling to be able to work with such an intelligent, dedicated, and supportive group of people as make up the Office of the Legislative Counsel. I look forward to continue working with them in striving to provide to all Members and committees of the House, at all stages of the legislative process, legislation that is carefully analyzed and drafted.”

After graduating summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania, Strokoff received her master's degree at Kings' College at the University of London, and her juris doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Strokoff currently resides in Cheverly, Maryland with her husband Jay Gordon. She is a violinist with the Prince George's Philharmonic Orchestra and the Prince George's Philharmonic String Quartet, and loves to play chamber music.