U.S. attorneys
U.S. attorneys serve as key legal representatives of the federal government, practicing across various legal domains and ensuring that the interests of American citizens are upheld. Operating under the Department of Justice, they are appointed by the president with Senate approval, as outlined in the U.S. Constitution. Their primary responsibilities include prosecuting federal criminal cases and representing the United States in civil lawsuits, whether as a plaintiff or a defendant. U.S. attorneys also provide legal counsel to the president and other government departments on pertinent issues. There are currently ninety-three U.S. attorneys stationed in offices nationwide, supported by assistant U.S. attorneys who manage the bulk of daily legal operations. The U.S. attorneys have access to a wide range of resources and collaborate extensively within various divisions, such as Antitrust, Civil Rights, and Criminal, among others. This structure enables them to effectively address the complexities of federal law and protect the rule of law across the country.
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U.S. attorneys
SIGNIFICANCE: Practicing in a wide number of legal areas, U.S. attorneys represent both the federal government and the interests of all American citizens.
The Department of Justice is, in effect, the law firm for the federal government. U.S. attorneys work under the authority of the U.S. attorney general . They are appointed directly by the president of the United States, with advice and consent of the Senate, as required by Article II of the U.S. Constitution.
The primary job of U.S. attorneys is to conduct criminal prosecutions involving violations of federal law, to represent the interests of the United States—either as plaintiff or defendant—in all civil suits to which the United States is named as a party. The attorneys also render legal advice on questions posed by the president and members of the various government departments.
In 2024, the Justice Department’s ninety-three U.S. attorneys were based in offices across the country. The attorneys are supported by a staff of assistant U.S. attorneys, who conduct most of the day-to-day legal work. U.S. attorneys have a large variety of resources available to them, and there is a high amount of communication and interaction among the divisions in which they work. The Justice Department’s litigation divisions include Antitrust, Civil, Civil Rights, Criminal, Environment and Natural Resources, and Taxes.
Bibliography
"About the US Attorney's Offices." Offices of the United States Attorneys, 2024, www.justice.gov/usao#. Accessed 20 June 2024.
Barnes, Harrison. "United States Attorneys: Who Are They?" BCG Attorney Search, 2024, www.bcgsearch.com/article/900052051/United-States-Attorneys-Who-Are-They/. Accessed 20 June 2024.
Johns, Margaret, and Rex R. Perschbacher. The United States Legal System: An Introduction. Durham, N.C.: Carolina Academic Press, 2002.
Sander, R. H., and E. D. Williams. “Why Are There So Many Lawyers? Perspectives of a Turbulent Market.” Law and Sociological Inquiry 14 (1989): 478.
Vaudreuil, John W. "United States Attorneys: A Law Firm Unlike Any Other." State Bar of Wisconsin, 7 Mar. 2024, www.wisbar.org/NewsPublications/WisconsinLawyer/Pages/Article.aspx?Volume=97&Issue=3&ArticleID=30281. Accessed 20 June 2024.