U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Sullivan, who has been serving in an interim status, was sworn in this afternoon as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington. Sullivan was originally selected by the U.S. Department of Justice to serve as the interim U.S. Attorney on January 26, 2007, following the resignation of U.S. Attorney John McKay. The interim appointment was set to expire today. As of midnight tonight, Sullivan serves by virtue of the order signed by Chief Judge Robert S. Lasnik.

Prior to his appointment as interim U.S. Attorney, Mr. Sullivan served as Chief of the Criminal Division within the United States Attorney’s Office. Mr. Sullivan joined the office in 2002, overseeing all criminal cases filed in the Western District of Washington. Mr. Sullivan has guided prosecutions involving material support for terrorism, cross-border organized crime, domestic terrorism, public corruption and corporate fraud. Mr. Sullivan has worked extensively with law enforcement leaders and local prosecutors to coordinate efforts to prosecute violent crime and other criminal activity. From 1975 to 2002, he served as the Yakima County Prosecutor, handling both criminal and civil litigation. In that capacity, he tried over 100 jury trials and argued twice before the U.S. Supreme Court. Earlier in his career, he was a sole practitioner.

Prior to making the appointment on behalf of the District Court Judges, Chief Judge Lasnik consulted the U.S. Department of Justice and the Executive Office of United States Attorneys. The order appointing Sullivan can be viewed at http://www.wawd.uscourts.gov/documents/10-10-07OrderappointingUSAttorney.pdf

Under the legislation passed by Congress and signed by President Bush, interim U.S. Attorneys can serve for 120 days following their appointment, then the U.S. District Court Judges act through the Chief Judge to appoint a U.S. Attorney. The 120 day period began on June 14, 2007, when President Bush signed the “Preserving United States Attorney Independence Act of 2007,” meaning Mr. Sullivan’s term was set to expire at midnight on October 12, 2007. Today’s ceremony means there will be a seamless transition when the Department of Justice appointment expires.

For additional information please contact Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney’s Office, at (206) 553-4110.

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