Norton Thanks U.S. Attorney for D.C. Ronald Machen for Exceptional Service Following Decision to Step Down

*Nominating Commission Begins Accepting Applications for New U.S. Attorney*

WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 17, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today thanked Ronald Machen, the U.S. Attorney for the District Chairman, for his devoted service over the past five years following his announcement that he will resign his office effective April 1, 2015. Norton recommended Machen to President Obama for the position, which heads the largest U.S. Attorney’s Office in the country, and serves as both the local and the federal prosecutor for the nation’s capital.

“We are grateful to U.S. Attorney Ronald Machen for his dedicated service as the longest serving U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia in over 35 years,” said Norton. “U.S. Attorney Machen has carried on the high standards and the neighborhood focus for the U.S. Attorney’s office here that began with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, who was the District’s first African American U.S. Attorney. U.S. Attorney Machen had the difficult task of serving two principals at the same time—as a federal prosecutor with success in terrorism and other prosecutions of national importance, and as the local prosecutor for the District of Columbia, where he worked with the Metropolitan Police Department to bring violent crime here to new lows and was especially appreciated by residents. I also praise U.S. Attorney Machen for heading the first U.S. Attorney’s Office to implement a Conviction Integrity Unit, tasked with investigating cases where there may have been wrongful convictions. It will be difficult to find a replacement with U.S. Attorney Machen’s talent and experience, but we will take up that task immediately. We wish him all the best as he pursues other endeavors.”

Prior to his service as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Ronald Machen was a partner at the law firm of Wilmer, Cutler, Pickering, Hale and Dorr. He also previously served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia from 1997-2001. Machen is a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Law School.

President Obama extended Norton senatorial courtesy to recommend candidates for U.S. Attorney, federal district judges, and other important federal law enforcement positions in the District. Due to the vacancy for the position of U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Norton’s Federal Law Enforcement Nominating Commission, chaired by Pauline Schneider, will be accepting applications to fill the position.

Interested candidates must submit their applications by April 15. Applications should include a résumé, three references, and a letter of interest outlining the applicant’s qualifications and reasons they want the position. Applications should be sent to:

Pauline A. Schneider
Chair, Federal Law Enforcement Nominating Commission
Ballard Spahr LLP
1909 K Street NW, 12th Floor
Washington, DC 20006