ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT APPOINTS NEW CHAIR OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S ADVISORY COMMITTEE

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Attorney General John Ashcroft has appointed William W. Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, to serve as the new Chair of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee of United States Attorneys. He will serve a one-year term effective May 1, 2004.

The Attorney General’s Advisory Committee plays a vital role in furthering the Department’s law enforcement efforts. The Committee advises the Attorney General and gives the United States Attorneys a key voice in Department policy. Mercer replaces Mary Beth Buchanan, United States Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, whose term as chair expires April 30th. Ms. Buchanan will continue to serve as a member of the Committee.

“Bill has had an impressive tenure as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana. His guidance and wise counsel as Chair of the Advisory Committee’s Sentencing Guidelines Subcommittee has been invaluable to me and to the Department,” said Attorney General Ashcroft. “Bill will provide strong leadership to the Advisory Committee as we continue to work together to bring to justice those responsible for acts of terrorism against this nation, target corporate and economic crime, combat gun violence and illegal drugs, and protect the civil rights of all Americans.”

The Attorney General appointed Mercer as United States Attorney for the District of Montana on April 21, 2001. He was confirmed by the United States Senate as the Presidentially appointed United States Attorney on November 19, 2001. He served as Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Montana from 1994 to 2001. During that time he also served on the Adjunct Faculty for both the University of Montana (1997-1999) and Montana State University - Billings (1996). Prior to joining the United States Attorney’s Office, Mercer was Counselor to the Assistant Attorney General and Senior Policy Analyst, Office of Policy Development, Department of Justice (1989-1994); and from 1988-1989 held the position of tax specialist with the Revenue Estimating Division, Office of Tax Policy, United States Department of the Treasury.

The following is a list of the 2004 Advisory Committee effective May 1, 2004:

William W. Mercer, United States Attorney, District of Montana, Chair
Paul J. McNulty, United States Attorney, Eastern District of Virginia, Vice Chair
Michael A. Battle, United States Attorney, Western District of New York
Mary Beth Buchanan, United States Attorney, Western District of Pennsylvania
Christopher J. Christie, United States Attorney, District of New Jersey
Jeffrey G. Collins, United States Attorney, Eastern District of Michigan
Patrick J. Fitzgerald, United States Attorney, Northern District of Illinois
Karin J. Immergut, United States Attorney, District of Oregon
Marcos Daniel Jiménez, United States Attorney, Southern District of Florida
Charles W. Larson, Sr., United States Attorney, Northern District of Iowa
Alice H. Martin, United States Attorney, Northern District of Alabama
Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney, District of Connecticut
Michael T. Shelby, United States Attorney, Southern District of Texas
Johnny K. Sutton, United States Attorney, Western District of Texas
J. Strom Thurmond, Jr., United States Attorney, District of South Carolina
Gregory F. Van Tatenhove, United States Attorney, Eastern District of Kentucky
Debra W. Yang, United States Attorney, Central District of California
Roscoe C. Howard, Jr., United States Attorney, District of Columbia, ex officio
Paul M. Warner, United States Attorney, District of Utah, ex officio
Gretchen Leah Witt, Civil Chief, District of New Hampshire

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