President Biden Announces Six New Nominees to Serve as U.S. Attorneys

President Biden is announcing six new nominees to serve as U.S. Attorneys across the country, officials who will be indispensable to upholding the rule of law as the top federal law enforcement officials for their districts.

These individuals 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.

The President launched a comprehensive effort to take on the uptick in gun crime that has been taking place since 2020—putting more cops on the beat, supporting community prevention programs, and cracking down on illegal gun trafficking. Confirming U.S. Attorneys as the chief federal law enforcement officers in their district is important for these efforts.

The President has now announced 43 nominees to serve as U.S. Attorneys.

U.S. Attorney Biographies

Vanessa R. Avery, U.S. Attorney nominee for the District of Connecticut

Vanessa R. Avery has served as the Chief of the Division of Enforcement and Public Protection at the Connecticut Attorney General’s Office since 2021, and as an Associate Attorney General in that office since 2019. From 2014 to 2019, she served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut. From 2006 to 2014, Ms. Avery was a litigation attorney at McCarter & English, LLP. From 2004 to 2005, she served as a Trial Attorney at the United States Department of Justice in the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Civil Division. From 1999 to 2003, Ms. Avery was an attorney in the Hartford Trial Group at Cummings & Lockwood LLC. Ms. Avery received her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 1999 and her B.A. from Yale University in 1996.

Trina A. Higgins, U.S. Attorney nominee for the District of Utah

Trina A. Higgins has served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah since 2002. Ms. Higgins has held various positions in the office, including Special Counsel to Litigative Programs from 2017 to 2021, Senior Litigation Counsel from 2015 to 2017, Violent Crime Section Chief from 2008 to 2015, and Tribal Liaison from 2005 to 2015. From 1995 to 2002, she served as Deputy District Attorney in the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office. Ms. Higgins received her J.D. from University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law in 1995 and her B.A. from Weber State University in 1992.

Jesse A. Laslovich, U.S. Attorney nominee for the District of Montana

Jesse A. Laslovich has served as Regional Vice President for the SCL Health Montana-Wyoming region since 2017. From 2009 to 2016, Mr. Laslovich served as Chief Legal Counsel in the office of the Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance. During 2011 and 2012, he also served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana. From 2007 to 2008, Mr. Laslovich served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Montana Attorney General’s office. He served in the Montana Senate from 2005 to 2010 and in the Montana House of Representatives from 2001 through 2004. Mr. Laslovich received his J.D. from the University of Montana School of Law in 2006 and his B.A., with high honors, from the University of Montana in 2003.

S. Lane Tucker, U.S. Attorney nominee for the District of Alaska

S. Lane Tucker has been a partner in the Anchorage office of Stoel Rives LLP since 2010. From 2008 to 2009, Ms. Tucker was Of Counsel at Perkins Coie LLP, and from 2006 to 2008, she was a sole practitioner. Ms. Tucker previously served in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska from 2002 to 2006, first as an Assistant United States Attorney from 2002 to 2003 and then as the Civil Chief from 2003 to 2006. From 1991 to 2002, Ms. Tucker served as a Trial Attorney in the Civil Division of the United States Department of Justice. From 1987 to 1991, Ms. Tucker served as an Assistant General Counsel for the General Services Administration. Ms. Tucker received her J.D. from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law in 1987 and her B.A. from Mary Baldwin College in 1983.

Alexander M.M. Uballez, U.S. Attorney nominee for the District of New Mexico

Alexander M.M. Uballez has served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico since 2016. From 2012 to 2016, Mr. Uballez was an Assistant District Attorney in the Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Albuquerque. From 2011 to 2012, he served as an Assistant District Attorney for the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Santa Fe. In 2011, Mr. Uballez served as a fellow in the New Jersey State Attorney General’s Office. Mr. Uballez received his J.D. from Columbia University School of Law in 2011 and his B.A. from Pomona College in 2008.

Jane E. Young, U.S. Attorney nominee for the District of New Hampshire

Jane E. Young has served as the Deputy Attorney General for the New Hampshire Department of Justice since 2018. She has held various leadership positions in the office since she joined in 1992, including Director of the Division of Public Protection from 2017 to 2018, Chief of the Criminal Justice Bureau from 2007 to 2017, and Chief of the Drug Unit from 2006 to 2007. From 1990 to 1992, Ms. Young served as an Assistant County Attorney in the Hillsborough County Attorney’s Office. Ms. Young received her J.D. from the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law in 1989 and her B.A. from Saint Anselm College in 1986.

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