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Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Biden Nominates Nick Brown As U.S. Attorney For The Western District Of Washington

Nicholas W. Brown

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, President Joe Biden announced eight nominees to serve as U.S. Attorneys across the country, including Nicholas “Nick” W. Brown as his appointment to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington. If appointed, Brown, a graduate of Morehouse College in Atlanta, would be the first African American to serve as U.S. Attorney in the Western District.

Biden launched a comprehensive effort to take on the uptick in gun crime that has been taking place for the last 18 months—putting more cops on the beat, supporting community prevention programs, and cracking down on illegal gun trafficking. According to the White House, confirming U.S. Attorneys as the chief federal law enforcement officers in their district is important for these efforts.

Brown was recommended for the position by U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) earlier this year. In addition to Brown, Murray and Cantwell also recommended Vanessa Waldref, who was also nominated by President Biden, to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington. If appointed, Waldref would be the first woman to serve as U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District.  

“I’m glad to see President Biden follow our recommendation and appoint these two highly-qualified and deserving candidates for Washington’s Western and Eastern District Attorneys,” said Murray. “Nick and Vanessa have already served their country, their state, and their communities with distinction, and I know they will continue to do so. As U.S. Attorneys in Washington state, they will play critical roles in confronting challenges ranging from racial injustice and police reform, to the threat of white supremacy, key climate and environmental matters, and much more. I’m confident that they have the experience, insight, and leadership needed to face our toughest challenges, promote equity, and affirm justice for people across our state.”

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Cantwell was equally excited about the historic nominations of these two-highly qualified candidates.

“I applaud President Biden’s nominations of the first African American U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington and the first female U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington,” said Cantwell. “Vanessa Waldref and Nick Brown are both highly-qualified. They will vigorously enforce federal law and our Constitutional rights. I encourage my colleagues in the Senate to support their confirmations.”

In addition to Brown and Waldref, Biden also nominated Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney nominee for the District of Maryland; Matthew M. Graves, U.S. Attorney nominee for the District of Columbia; Clifford D. Johnson, U.S. Attorney nominee for the Northern District of Indiana; Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney nominee for the Southern District of Indiana; Rachael S. Rollins, U.S. Attorney nominee for the District of Massachusetts; and Trini E. Ross, U.S. Attorney nominee for the Western District of New York.

In his announcement, Biden said that “these individuals—many of whom are historic firsts—were chosen for their devotion to enforcing the law, their professionalism, their experience and credentials in this field, their dedication to pursuing equal justice for all, and their commitment to the independence of the Department of Justice.”

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Brown is a partner at Pacifica Law Group. He previously served as General Counsel to the Governor of Washington from 2013 to 2017, and as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Washington from 2007 to 2013. Brown began his legal career as a Judge Advocate General in the United States Army, serving as both a prosecutor and defense counsel. He received his J.D. from Harvard University in 2002 and his B.A. from Morehouse College in 1999.

Brown’s appointment is subject to confirmation by the U.S. Senate.

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