Attorney General William P. Barr Appoints Katharine Sullivan to be Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs and Announces that Laura L. Rogers Will Serve as the Acting Director of the Office on Violence Against Women

WASHINGTON – Attorney General William P. Barr today announced that he has appointed Katharine Sullivan to serve as the Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs and that Laura L. Rogers will serve as the Acting Director of the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW).

 “Katie Sullivan has been an energetic and great leader of the Office on Violence Against Women, and I am confident she will bring the same enthusiasm to the Office of Justice Programs,” said Attorney General Barr.  “Katie’s leadership will further enhance the department’s efforts to strengthen public safety and the criminal justice system through research, programs and strategies, and to provide critical services to victims of crime.”

Katharine (Katie) Sullivan has served as the Acting Director of OVW since January 2018.  Prior to joining OVW, Ms. Sullivan was appointed in 2007 to the Colorado state trial court bench where she presided over misdemeanor, felony and civil matters including domestic violence,  sexual assault sentencings, cases involving drugs and alcohol, and jury trials.  Ms. Sullivan implemented and presided over a drug court and a driving under the influence (DUI) court, leading two multidisciplinary teams.   Prior to becoming a Judge, Ms. Sullivan served as a Deputy District Attorney in Colorado, prosecuting all types of felony and misdemeanor cases, worked closely with law enforcement and participated in a community based collaborative domestic violence task force.  While in private practice, she served on the Victim Compensation Board. Ms. Sullivan also trained law enforcement nationwide regarding risk and liability in jails and prisons.  She also served on the State Judicial Ethics Board. 

Laura L. Rogers to serve as Acting OVW Director

Also today, Attorney General Barr announced that Laura L. Rogers will lead the Office on Violence Against Women.  OVW leads federal efforts to reduce violence against women and administer justice for and strengthen services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

Ms. Rogers has served as Director of the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART Office), in the Office of Justice Programs since January 2018.  As the SMART Director, Ms. Rogers led the SMART staff in administering the standards of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).

“Laura Rogers has a distinguished history serving the cause of justice for victims of sexual abuse and preventing future abuse,” said Attorney General Barr.  “Among her many accomplishments, Laura was appointed by President George W. Bush to be the founder of the SMART office and has been a pioneer in developing the sex offender registration and notification systems that today deny known sex offenders anonymity and help keep children and adults safe across America.”

Prior to coming to the Department, Ms. Rogers served on the National Review Board of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops as well as the Philadelphia Archdiocese Review Board on Sexual Abuse and Pastoral Conduct.  Ms. Rogers also served as deputy director of the Criminal Law Division of the U.S. Navy's Office of the Judge Advocate General.  Ms. Rogers began her legal career in 1988 as a criminal prosecutor in the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office.