United States Attorney for the Western District of Washington
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| United States Attorney for the Western District of Washington | |
|---|---|
 Federal government of the United States · Public domain · source | |
| Name | United States Attorney for the Western District of Washington |
| Incumbent | Tessa M. Gorman (acting) |
| Incumbentsince | 2021 |
| Formation | 1906 |
| Website | www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa |
United States Attorney for the Western District of Washington is the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Western District of Washington, responsible for prosecuting violations of federal law and representing federal interests in civil litigation. The office operates within the United States Department of Justice framework and coordinates with agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and United States Marshals Service. Headquartered in Seattle, the office handles matters affecting federal statutes, national security, and civil rights across western Washington.
Office overview
The office serves as the principal litigating authority for the United States in the Western District of Washington, interfacing with tribunals like the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, appellate bodies such as the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and investigative agencies including the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and Office of Inspector General (United States Department of Justice). It is part of the national network of offices under the Attorney General of the United States and works with federal entities including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, and United States Secret Service on cross-cutting matters.
Jurisdiction and organizational structure
The Western District covers counties from Whatcom County, Washington to Cowlitz County, Washington and includes urban centers such as Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, Washington, and Bellingham, Washington. The office is organized into divisions that mirror federal priorities: Criminal Division, Civil Division, Appellate Division, and specialized units for Public Integrity, Environmental Crimes, Intellectual Property, and Financial Fraud. It coordinates with federal partners like the United States Attorney General’s task forces, the National Security Division (United States Department of Justice), and regional initiatives such as the Pacific Northwest Economic Region.
Responsibilities and notable cases
Responsibilities include prosecuting offenses under statutes like the Controlled Substances Act, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the Patriot Act, and tax-related provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. The office has litigated significant matters involving antitrust issues raised under the Sherman Antitrust Act, environmental enforcement tied to the Clean Water Act, and civil rights claims invoked through the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Notable prosecutions and civil suits have included high-profile matters involving cybersecurity incidents investigated with the National Security Agency, trade-secrets cases coordinated with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, public corruption investigations involving officials linked to King County, Washington and Pierce County, Washington, and immigration enforcement actions in collaboration with the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and United States Customs and Border Protection.
The office has prosecuted organized crime and drug trafficking conspiracies tied to transnational groups engaged with routes linking the Pacific Ocean and ports such as the Port of Seattle and Port of Tacoma. Environmental and Native American treaty matters have required coordination with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and tribal governments including the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. Civil enforcement actions have included cases against major corporations and financial institutions overseen by regulators like the Securities and Exchange Commission and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
List of United States Attorneys
The office’s leadership lineage includes appointees who later served in roles across the federal judiciary and executive branch. Past holders have included prosecutors elevated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, nominees confirmed by the United States Senate, and alumni who joined federal agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Homeland Security. Acting and confirmed U.S. Attorneys from the district have engaged with national figures including the Attorney General and collaborated with state executives like the Governor of Washington.
Appointment and tenure
United States Attorneys are nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate pursuant to statutes in Title 28 of the United States Code. U.S. Attorneys serve at the pleasure of the President of the United States and typically change with presidential administrations, though acting appointments—such as those governed by the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998—have been used to maintain continuity. Confirmation hearings occur before the United States Senate Judiciary Committee, and nominees may be subject to blue slips by home-state senators from Washington (state), including members of the United States Senate.
Offices and locations
Primary offices are in Seattle with branch locations in Tacoma and Bremerton, Washington and facilities for court proceedings in the district’s courthouses such as the William Kenzo Nakamura United States Courthouse and the United States Courthouse (Tacoma, Washington). The office collaborates with municipal law enforcement counterparts including the Seattle Police Department, Tacoma Police Department, King County Sheriff's Office, and county prosecutors such as the King County Prosecuting Attorney and Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney. It also coordinates intergovernmental efforts with state agencies like the Washington State Attorney General and regional entities including the Port of Seattle Police Department.