Eric Holder

Eric Holder served as the 82nd United States Attorney General under President Barack Obama, becoming the first African American to hold that office. His tenure, from 2009 to 2015, was marked by significant legal and political challenges, including the response to the Great Recession, national security debates, and civil rights enforcement. Previously, he held several high-ranking positions in the United States Department of Justice, including United States Attorney for the District of Columbia and Deputy Attorney General under President Bill Clinton.

Early life and education

Eric Holder was born in The Bronx to parents with roots in Barbados. He attended Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan, a prestigious public institution. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in American history from Columbia University in 1973. He remained at Columbia Law School, where he graduated with a Juris Doctor in 1976. During his legal education, he worked for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.

Legal career

After law school, Holder joined the United States Department of Justice through the Attorney General's Honor Program. He was assigned to the newly formed Public Integrity Section, where he prosecuted official corruption cases. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan appointed him as an associate judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, a role in which he served for five years. In 1993, President Bill Clinton appointed him as the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, making him the first African American to lead the largest United States Attorney's Office in the nation.

United States Attorney General

Nominated by President Barack Obama, Holder was confirmed by the United States Senate in February 2009. His tenure focused on counterterrorism, including overseeing the prosecution of terrorists in federal court and authorizing the operation that killed Osama bin Laden. He championed civil rights, challenging voter ID laws and advocating for reforms to the criminal justice system. Significant controversies included the "Fast and Furious" operation, investigations into journalists related to leaks, and the defense of the Affordable Care Act before the Supreme Court of the United States. He also played a key role in the decision not to prosecute DOJ attorneys involved in the enhanced interrogation techniques authorized after the September 11 attacks.

Post-government career

After leaving the United States Department of Justice in 2015, Holder returned to the law firm Covington & Burling, where he had previously been a partner. He became a prominent political activist, chairing the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, which focused on challenging gerrymandering. He has been a vocal critic of the administration of President Donald Trump and an advocate for voting rights. In 2019, he was briefly considered a potential candidate for the 2020 United States presidential election but declined to run. He remains a frequent commentator on legal and political issues for outlets like CNN.

Personal life

Holder is married to Sharon Malone, a prominent obstetrician-gynecologist and the sister of civil rights activist Vivian Malone Jones. They have three children and reside in Washington, D.C. He is an avid basketball fan, frequently attending Washington Wizards and Georgetown Hoyas games. Holder has received numerous honors, including the Thurgood Marshall Award from the National Association of Attorneys General.

Category:1951 births Category:Living people Category:United States Attorneys General Category:Columbia University alumni Category:American lawyers