Attorney General William P. Barr Will Appoint Jeffrey Ragsdale to Head Office of Professional Responsibility

Attorney General William P. Barr will appoint Jeffrey Ragsdale as the head of the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR). The appointment will be effective tomorrow. Mr. Ragsdale will replace Corey Amundson, who became Chief of the Public Integrity Section in September. Mr. Ragsdale has been serving as acting head of OPR since September.

As the head of the OPR, Mr. Ragsdale will lead a component of the U.S. Department of Justice that investigates misconduct allegations against Department attorneys, immigration judges, and law enforcement agents.  He is the fifth permanent head since the office was founded. 

“The Office of Professional Responsibilities is instrumental in ensuring that the Department of Justice conducts itself in accord with the highest professional standards,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “I am pleased to announce that Jeffrey Ragsdale will be its new Director and Chief Counsel. Jeff has shown throughout his career at the Department that he is a dedicated public servant who knows the importance of the rule of law as well as our ethical responsibilities as the attorneys representing the United States.”

Mr. Ragsdale has served as the Principal Deputy Director and Deputy Counsel for the Office of Professional since September 2016.  He is currently the Acting Director and Chief Counsel.  Prior to joining OPR, he served as an assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia for 29 years, during which time he tried a large number of cases, including homicides and complex narcotics case. 

Mr. Ragsdale also served as a manager and supervised numerous litigation sections in both the Superior Court and Criminal Divisions, including serving as the chief of the Homicide Section for eight years.  Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, he served as a state prosecutor in Virginia for five years. 

Mr. Ragsdale has a B.A. from West Virginia Wesleyan College and a J.D. from the University of Cincinnati.  He is a member of the Virginia and District of Columbia bars