Mark Herring

Mark Herring
Name	Mark Herring
Birth date	March 25, 1961
Birth place	Johnson City, Tennessee, U.S.
Occupation	Attorney, politician
Office	Attorney General of Virginia
Term start	January 11, 2014
Term end	January 15, 2022
Party	Democratic Party
Alma mater	University of Virginia School of Law, University of Virginia

Mark Herring is an American attorney and politician who served two terms as the Attorney General of Virginia. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected in 2013 and re-elected in 2017, becoming a prominent figure in high-profile legal actions involving federal policy, civil rights, and state regulatory matters. Herring's tenure intersected with national debates involving Donald Trump, Barack Obama, and issues adjudicated before the Supreme Court of the United States.

Early life and education

Herring was born in Johnson City, Tennessee and raised in the Commonwealth of Virginia. He attended the University of Virginia for undergraduate study and earned a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he studied alongside peers who later joined institutions such as the American Civil Liberties Union, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and major law firms. His formative years included internships and clerkships with judges from the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and engagements with organizations like the Legal Aid Society and local bar associations in Virginia.

Legal and early political career

After law school Herring joined private practice with firms that handled litigation before the Supreme Court of Virginia and federal courts, representing clients in matters involving constitutional law, civil litigation, and regulatory compliance. He served as counsel in cases before judges appointed by Presidents including George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton, and worked with advocacy groups connected to the Democratic Party and the Virginia Democratic Party. Herring was elected to the Virginia Senate representing a district encompassing parts of Loudoun County and Fauquier County, where he worked on legislation affecting state insurance regulation, consumer protection, and healthcare oversight. During his time in the legislature he liaised with officials from the United States Department of Justice and engaged with policy leaders from institutions such as the Brookings Institution and the Heritage Foundation on bipartisan initiatives.

Attorney General of Virginia

As Attorney General Herring filed and led litigation on behalf of the Commonwealth of Virginia in matters involving federal executive actions and administrative rulemaking. He joined multistate coalitions that challenged directives from the Trump administration while aligning with other state attorneys general including those from California, Massachusetts, New York, and Maryland. Herring pursued cases before the Supreme Court of the United States and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit involving immigration policy, environmental regulation under the Environmental Protection Agency, and healthcare issues related to the Affordable Care Act. He also defended state statutes in litigation involving voting rights, redistricting disputes adjudicated by panels influenced by decisions from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and the Supreme Court of Virginia, and consumer protection suits cooperating with offices like the Federal Trade Commission.

Herring's office issued opinions and enforcement actions on matters involving financial institutions regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of the Treasury and coordinated with prosecutors from the United States Attorney's Office on fraud and public corruption cases. He worked with local law enforcement agencies such as the Fairfax County Police Department and state agencies including the Virginia State Police on crime prevention and opioid litigation tied to manufacturers and distributors like Johnson & Johnson.

Controversies and investigations

Herring's tenure included controversies and formal inquiries. He faced scrutiny over a disclosure concerning past conduct, prompting attention from media outlets including The Washington Post and Richmond Times-Dispatch. His office was the subject of ethics reviews and investigations by bodies such as the Virginia State Bar and state legislative ethics panels examining potential conflicts of interest tied to campaign activities and legal advice issued by his office. In addition, internal disputes with deputy attorneys and staff led to personnel inquiries and reporting in outlets including The New York Times and NPR.

Several high-profile legal decisions by his office provoked responses from national political figures such as Mitch McConnell and Nancy Pelosi, and civil rights organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People criticized or supported various actions. Investigations intersected with broader national debates on prosecutorial conduct and state executive authority highlighted in proceedings before the Virginia General Assembly and hearings involving attorneys general from multiple states.

Post-attorney general career and later activities

After leaving the office Herring engaged in private practice, joined legal consulting, and participated in advocacy with nonprofit organizations and think tanks including the Center for American Progress and law schools such as the Georgetown University Law Center and the University of Virginia School of Law as a guest lecturer. He remained active in partisan and civic circles, appearing at events hosted by the Democratic National Committee and contributing to litigation strategy in multistate actions coordinated with attorneys general from states like California and Massachusetts. Herring also advised on election law issues referenced during post-2020 disputes involving officials such as Joe Biden and remained a commentator for media outlets including CNN and MSNBC.

He has served on boards and advisory committees for nonprofit legal groups and civic organizations, engaging with leaders from institutions like the Ford Foundation, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and the Annenberg Public Policy Center on governance, civil liberties, and public-interest litigation. Category:Virginia lawyers