President Biden is announcing five new nominees to serve as U.S. Attorneys across the country, as well as three new nominees to serve as U.S. Marshals. These are officials who will be indispensable to upholding the rule of law as top federal law enforcement officials.

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 has proposed a budget that would significantly increase funding for law enforcement as part of a comprehensive approach to tackling the rising crime rate this administration inherited last year.

The President has also 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 48 nominees to serve as U.S. Attorneys, and 5 nominees to serve as U.S. Marshals.


U.S. Attorney Nominees

  1. Rachelle L. Crowe: United States Attorney Nominee for the Southern District of Illinois

Rachelle L. Crowe has served as the State Senator for Illinois’s 56th District since 2019. From 2006 to 2018, she served as an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office in the Violent Crimes, General Felony and Juvenile Abuse units. She was previously an associate at three law firms: Carmody MacDonald P.C. from 2004 to 2006, Riezman Berger from 2002 to 2004, and Hoagland, Fitzgerald, Smith & Praintis from 2000 to 2002. Ms. Crowe received her J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law in 2000 and her B.A. from the University of Missouri in St. Louis in 1996.

  1. Joshua D. Hurwit: United States Attorney Nominee for the District of Idaho

Joshua D. Hurwit has served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho since 2012. Mr. Hurwit was previously an associate at three law firms: Covington & Burling LLP from 2011 to 2012, Kirkland & Ellis LLP from 2008 to 2011, and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP from 2006 to 2007. Mr. Hurwit served as a law clerk for Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York from 2007 to 2008. Mr. Hurwit received his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 2006 and his B.A. from Stanford University in 2002.

  1. Gerard M. Karam: United States Attorney Nominee for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Gerard M. Karam is a partner at the law firm of Mazzoni Karam Petorak and Valvano, where he has practiced since 1995. His practice focuses on complex civil and criminal litigation. From 1997 to 2001, he served as a member of the Criminal Justice Act Panel for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Mr. Karam served as the Chief Public Defender of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania from 1993 to 2003 and as an Assistant Public Defender in the same office from 1991 to 1993. From 1987 to 1995, Mr. Karam was a sole practitioner. Mr. Karam received his J.D. from Loyola University School of Law in 1987 and his B.S. from Saint Joseph’s University in 1984.

  1. Jacqueline C. Romero: United States Attorney Nominee for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Jacqueline C. Romero has served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania since 2006. Ms. Romero served as a Senior Counsel to the United States Mint from 2000 to 2006. She previously served as a Trial Attorney in the Commercial Litigation Branch of the United States Department of Justice from 1998 to 2000. She was an associate at Lowenstein Sandler LLP from 1996 to 1998. Ms. Romero received her J.D. from Rutgers Law School in 1996 and her B.A. from the College of New Jersey in 1993.

  1. Phillip A. Talbert: United States Attorney Nominee for the Eastern District of California

Phillip A. Talbert has served as the Attorney General-appointed United States Attorney for the Eastern District of California since December 2021, a position he also held from 2016 to 2017. He joined the United States Attorney’s Office in 2002 as an Assistant United States Attorney. From 1996 to 2002, Mr. Talbert served as an Assistant Counsel and Associate Counsel for the United States Department of Justice Office of Professional Responsibility. From 1993 to 1996, he was an associate at Stoel, Rives, Boley, Jones & Grey. From 1990 to 1993, Mr. Talbert served as a Trial Attorney in the Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice. From 1989 to 1990, Mr. Talbert served as a law clerk for Judge David R. Thompson on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. 

Mr. Talbert received his J.D. from the UCLA School of Law in 1989, his M.Ec. with honors from the University of Sydney in 1987, and his A.B., magna cum laude, from Harvard University in 1984.

U.S. Marshal Nominees

  1. Michael M. Contrades: United States Marshal Nominee for the District of Hawai‘i

Michael M. Contrades has served as a Field Representative for the Office of Congressman Kaiali‘i Kahele on the island of Kaua‘i since 2021. Mr. Contrades is also a Capital Improvement Project Coordinator for the County of Kaua‘i and served as a Legislative Liason for the County of Kaua‘i in 2020. Mr. Contrades previously served in the County of Kaua‘i Police Department from 1994 to 2019. He held numerous leadership positions while at the department, including Acting Chief of Police from 2018 to 2019, Deputy Chief of Police from 2011 to 2018, and Captain from 2010 to 2011. Mr. Contrades received his B.S. from Bethel University College of Public Service in 2014.

  1. David C. Davis: United States Marshal Nominee for the Southern District of Illinois

David C. Davis has served as a Task Force Officer for the Illinois State Police Department since 2017. From 1994 to 2016, Mr. Davis worked for the United States Marshals Service, where he served as Supervisory Deputy United States Marshal from 2014 to 2016, Criminal Investigator from 2005 to 2014, Witness Security Inspector from 2003 to 2004, and Deputy United States Marshal from 1994 to 2004. Mr. Davis received his M.A. from Webster University in 2018 and his B.A. from University of Missouri at St. Louis in 1985.

  1. Enix Smith III: United States Marshal Nominee for the Eastern District of Louisiana

Enix Smith III served in the Office of Congressman Cedric L. Richmond from 2011 to 2021. He served as Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff from 2015 to 2021, Law Enforcement Coordinator from 2011 to 2021, and District Director in 2011. Mr. Smith previously worked as a Quality Control Supervisor for Quadel Consulting Corporation from 2006 to 2010 and as a Field Supervisor for Eagle Environment from 2005 to 2006. He was the Program Site Administrator for the Louisiana Community Developers, Inc. from 2002 to 2005 and the Assistant Director for New Orleans Community Enhancement, Inc. from 2002 to 2005. Mr. Smith was previously a teacher for New Orleans Public Schools from 1998 to 2005. Mr. Smith received his B.A. from Xavier University in 1998.

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