MARYLAND & THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND

ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS


UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Maryland was established by the federal Judiciary Act of 1789. The District of Maryland was one of the original thirteen judicial districts created by that act. From 1789 to 1870, U.S. Attorneys were accountable directly to the U.S. President. With the formation of the U.S. Department of Justice in 1870, the U.S. Attorney General began to superintend the trial-level work of the U.S. Attorneys.

Under the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney and Assistant U.S. Attorneys are the federal government's principal trial lawyers. For the District of Maryland, the U.S. Attorney's Office prosecutes all federal criminal cases, represents the federal government in civil litigation, and collects those debts owed the federal government which are administratively uncollectible.

The U.S. Attorney is appointed to a four-year term by the President of the United States with the advice and consent of the U.S. Senate. Assistant U.S. Attorneys are appointed by the U.S. Attorney General for indefinite terms.

Two geographic divisions comprise the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Maryland. The Southern Division covers Calvert, Charles, Prince George's, Montgomery and St. Mary's counties. The remaining Maryland counties are included in the Northern Division.

Besides its geographic divisions, the Office is organized into four functional divisions: Administrative, Appellate, Civil, and Criminal.


ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION

The lltigation acts of the Civil Division and the Criminal Division are supported by the Administrative Division, which also works to ensure compliance with rules and regulations of the U.S. Department of Justice. The Division further coordinates other options for law enforcement support, and victims and witnesses.


APPELLATE DIVISION

Within the District of Maryland, the Appellate Division oversees the handling of appeals in criminal cases. In the litigation of appeals in the Fourth Circuit from the District of Maryland, the Appellate Division assists the Criminal Division which prepares its own briefs and argues its own appeals. The Appellate Division helps the Criminal Division draft and edit briefs, conduct moot courts, and prepare for oral arguments. It also assists in preparing responses to post-appeal collateral attacks, reviews and edits district court filings, and helps form office policy and training.


CIVIL DIVISION

Located in Baltimore, the Civil Division defends U.S. government agencies when they are sued in court. It also prosecutes civil enforcement activities in a variety of fraud matters, and collects debts owed to the U.S. government.


CRIMINAL DIVISION

The Criminal Division is organized into six sections: Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering; Fraud and Public Corruption; Major Crimes, such as civil rights abuses, child exploitation, identity fraud and environmental violations; Narcotics; National Security, and Cybercrime; and Violent Crimes and Gangs. The Division is aided by the Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council of Maryland, the Election Fraud Task Force, the Maryland Mortgage Fraud Task Force, and the Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit.

FRAUD & PUBLIC CORRUPTION SECTION

NARCOTICS SECTION

NATIONAL SECURITY SECTION
While most national security matters come under the investigative jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the National Security Section works with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to ensure that all matters bearing on the national security interests of the United States are thoroughly investigated.

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