Asian Fortune Your source for all things Asian American
By Jennie L. Ilustre
An American of Asian ancestry is President Trump’s choice to be associate attorney general, the third highest position in the Department of Justice. Trump nominated Jessie Liu, currently U.S. Attorney for D.C., to the top position in early March.
Liu, 46, an A.B. summa cum laude graduate from Harvard University who earned her J.D. from Yale Law School, has a fast-rising career. She has been the U.S. Attorney for D.C. since September 2017.
If confirmed by the Senate, she would replace Rachel Brand. NBC News reported the post has been open since February, when Brand left to take a position as a lawyer for Walmart.
Asian American bar association leaders, community leaders and legal groups welcomed the news, which was first reported by The Wall Street Journal. “We always welcome the appointment of more Asian Pacific Americans in judicial positions to ensure diversity of views and opinions in this important branch of government,” said Asian American civil rights advocate Jon Melegrito.
The National Association of Former US Attorneys (NAFUSA) proudly posted the DOJ announcement in its website, adding that U.S. Attorney for D.C. Liu “appeared at the October, 2017 NAFUSA Annual Conference to welcome us to Washington.”
If confirmed, Liu will oversee the civil division, the civil rights division, the antitrust division, the office overseeing police reform, and other divisions not related to criminal prosecutions or national security, according to the NBC report. The report also noted Liu served on Trump’s transition team, a position that Democrats raised as a potential conflict of interest in the confirmation process.
High Praise from Top DOJ official
In a statement on March 5, U.S. Attorney General William Barr stressed Liu is highly-qualified for the post. He pointed out: “Jessie has distinguished herself as a first-class attorney in private practice, in the Treasury Department, and in five different positions over her career at the Department of Justice. Today she leads more than 300 prosecutors at our nation’s largest U.S. Attorney office, where she has achieved significant accomplishments, including prosecuting several significant False Claims Act cases and implementing the Department’s pilot initiative on sexual harassment in public housing.”
“With her record of public service, particularly in civil justice and federal law enforcement matters, it is clear that she will be an outstanding addition to our leadership team at the Department,” he stressed.
Liu previously served as U.S. Assistant Attorney in D.C. She has worked in several senior positions in the Department of Justice, including as Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Rights Division, Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General, and Deputy Chief of staff for the National Security Division.
Liu had been a partner at the law firms of Morrison & Foerster LLP and Jenner & Block LLP, where her practice focused on litigation, investigations, and compliance. Most recently, she was Deputy General Counsel at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Liu clerked for Chief Judge Carolyn Dineen King of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Houston, Texas.
APAs in Top Posts
Several Asian Americans are serving in the Trump Administration, led by Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao. Noel Francisco is the Solicitor General. Nikki Haley recently served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Michelle K. Lee served at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), an agency in the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Asian American lawyer Vincent Eng also noted these top appointments, and added Manisha Singh, who has been Acting Undersecretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, and U.S. Attorneys BJ Pak, Robert Hur, and Kenji Price.
It will be recalled that former U.S. Congressman Norman Y. Mineta has the distinct achievement of serving in cabinet posts of two Presidents from both the Democratic and Republican parties. President Bill Clinton appointed him Secretary of Commerce and President George W. Bush named him Secretary of Transportation.
