Vermont Business Magazine President Biden on Tuesday announced nine candidates for U.S. prosecutor positions across the country, including Nikolas P Kerest as designated U.S. attorney for the district of Vermont. If confirmed by the Senate, Kerest would occupy the post previously held by Christina Nolan, who was appointed by President Trump. These positions usually change hands with a new administration.

Biden said these officials will be critical to upholding the rule of law as key federal law enforcement officials for their districts.

These individuals were chosen for their dedication to law enforcement, their professionalism, experience and credentials in this area, their dedication to the pursuit of equal justice for all and their commitment to the independence of the ministry of Justice.

The president has launched a global effort to tackle the surge in gun crime that has taken place over the past 18 months – by putting more cops on the go, supporting community prevention programs and cracking down on illegal trafficking in firearms. Confirming that U.S. prosecutors are the primary federal law enforcement officials in their district is important to these efforts.

The president has now announced 25 candidates for the posts of US prosecutors.

Biographies of American lawyers

Nikolas P. Kerest, Designated U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont

Nikolas P. Kerest, 48, of Shelburne, is the Assistant United States Attorney in the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont, where he has served since 2019. Previously, Kerest served in the Division civil of the same. office, first as Deputy United States Attorney from 2010 to 2014, then as Civilian Chief from 2014 to 2019. While serving as Civilian Chief, Kerest also served as Civil Rights Coordinator from 2014 to 2016 Kerest was in private practice with Pierce Atwood LLP in Portland, Maine from 2004 to 2010 and Ropes & Gray LLP in Boston, Massachusetts from 2001 to 2004. Kerest was law clerk to Judge Fred I. Parker on the United States Court of Appeals. United States for the second circuit from 2000 to 2001.

Kerest received his JD from Cornell Law School in 2000 and his BA from Williams College in 1994.

Clare E. Connors, U.S. Attorney-at-hand for the District of Hawaii

Clare E. Connors has been Hawaii’s Attorney General since January 2019. Prior to her appointment, Connors was an attorney with the Davis Levin Livingston law firm in Honolulu from 2011 to 2018. From 2004 to 2011, Connors was an assistant. United States Attorney at the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii. Connors also served as a trial attorney in the United States Department of Justice’s Tax Division and Special Assistant to the United States Attorney at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia from 2003 to 2004. Connors served as law clerk for Judge David Alan Ezra in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii from 2002 to 2003.

Connors received his JD from Harvard Law School in 2002 and his BA, cum laude, from Yale College in 1996.

Zachary A. Cunha, Designated U.S. Attorney for the District of Rhode Island

Zachary A. Cunha is Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island, where he is currently Head of the Civil Division. He joined the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island in 2014. Cunha served as the Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of New York from 2005 to 2008 and in the District of Massachusetts from 2008 to 2013 Cunha previously served as Deputy Legal Counsel for New York City from 2001 to 2005.

Cunha received her JD with Distinction from George Washington University Law School in 2001 and her AB with Distinction from Brown University in 1998.

Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney Candidate for the Eastern District of North Carolina

Michael F. Easley, Jr. is a litigation partner with the law firm McGuireWoods LLP, where he has practiced since 2010. His practice at McGuireWoods LLP has focused on government investigations and a range of civil and criminal cases before the courts. state and federal. . Easley is also a member of the Criminal Justice Law Expert Panel for the Eastern District of North Carolina, through which he has provided legal representation to indigent clients facing charges or a federal investigation. He is currently a member of the board of the Criminal Justice Section of the North Carolina Bar Association and a member of the Visitors’ Council of the University of North Carolina. Easley previously served on the board of directors of the Tenth Law Society of the Judicial District of North Carolina and the Wake County Bar Association.

Easley received his JD, with Distinction, from the University of North Carolina Law School in 2010, and his BA, with Distinction and Distinction, from the University of North Carolina in 2007.

Cole Finegan, United States Attorney Candidate for the District of Colorado

Cole Finegan has been the Managing Partner of Hogan Lovells US LLP in Denver Law Firm since 2007. While at Hogan Lovells, Finegan also served as Regional Managing Partner for the Americas from 2014 to 2020. From 2003 In 2006, Finegan held two positions. as chief of staff to the mayor of Denver and as a city attorney. Prior to joining the civil service, Finegan was a partner at Brownstein Hyatt Farber & Schreck from 1993 to 2003, where he also worked as a partner from 1987 to 1991. From 1991 to 1993, Finegan was the office’s chief legal advisor. of the governor. from Colorado.

Finegan received his JD from Georgetown University Law Center in 1986, when he was chief of staff to US Congressman James R. Jones. He obtained his BA from the University of Notre-Dame in 1978.

Sandra J. Hairston, United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina

Sandra J. Hairston has been the Acting United States Attorney for the Central District of North Carolina since March 1, 2021. She joined the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of North Carolina in 1990 as Assistant United States Attorney. Hairston previously served as the United States First Deputy Attorney for the Central District of North Carolina from 2014 to 2021. From 1994 to 1996, Hairston served as the Criminal Division Chief of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina before returning to the Central District of North Carolina in 1996. Hairston previously served as Deputy Attorney in Columbus County, North Carolina from 1987 through 1989, and as Deputy Special Prosecutor in the Guilford County, North Carolina, 1989-1990.

Hairston received his JD from North Carolina Central University School of Law in 1987 and his BA from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 1981.

Dena J. King, United States Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina

Dena J. King is Assistant to the United States Attorney at the Office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, where she has served since 2020 as Deputy Chief Criminal Officer for Violent Crimes, Task Forces on the fight against organized crime and drugs. . From 2014 to 2020, King served as Special Assistant United States Attorney and then Deputy United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. King was previously an attorney in the Securities Division of the Secretary of State’s North Carolina Department from 2009 to 2014. From 2006 to 2008, King served as an assistant attorney in the Mecklenburg County Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, Carolina. North.

King received his JD from North Carolina Central University School of Law in 2006 and his BS, magna cum laude, from North Carolina State University in 2003.

Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney Candidate for the Southern District of Ohio

Kenneth L. Parker is the Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio, where he has worked since 1999. He was Chief of the Criminal Division from 2011 to 2019 and Chief of the fight against organized crime. Law Enforcement Task Force from 2010 to 2011. From 2003 to 2005, Parker was an Assistant Professor of Federal Criminal Practice at the University of Cincinnati College of Law. Parker was Legal Assistant to Judge S. Arthur Spiegel in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio from 1997 to 1999.

Parker received his JD from Indiana University School of Law in 1997 and his BS, magna cum laude, from Tuskegee University in 1994.

Delia L. Smith, United States Attorney for the District of the Virgin Islands

Delia L. Smith is currently the United States Assistant Attorney for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands, where she has worked since 2005. From 2012 to 2014, Smith was seconded to work as a trial prosecutor in the USA. United States Department of Justice Office of International Affairs. Prior to joining the Department of Justice, Smith was Deputy Attorney General in the Office of the Attorney General of the Virgin Islands Department of Justice from 1999 to 2005. Smith served as Judge Ishmael Meyers’ law clerk in the Virgin Superior Court. Islands from 1997 to 1999.

Smith received his JD from Texas Southern University in 1997 and his BA from the University of the Virgin Islands in 1993.

Source: The White House. SEPTEMBER 28, 2021