DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL JAMES B. COMEY ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF PRINCIPAL ASSOCIATE DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Deputy Attorney General James B. Comey announced today the dual appointment of William W. Mercer as Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General, while he continues to serve as United States Attorney for the District of Montana. Mercer will begin service in the Office of the Deputy Attorney General in June.

“Over sixteen years, Bill Mercer has built an impressive record of service to the Justice Department. His areas of expertise span major issues that we confront in Washington, D.C. every day,” said Deputy Attorney General Comey. “I am pleased that Bill is willing to take on new responsibilities in addition to his distinguished service to the District of Montana, and the Department is looking forward to having Bill’s wise counsel through this new role.”

Mercer has served the District of Montana as the U.S. Attorney since 2001. From 1994 to 2001, he worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Montana. From 1989 to 1994, he served in Washington, D.C., as Counselor to the Assistant Attorney General and Senior Policy Analyst in the Justice Department’s Office of Policy Development. Mercer also served as a Presidential Management Intern in the Treasury Department’s Office of Tax Policy from 1988 to 1989.

Since May 2004, Mercer has served as the Chairman of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC), a group of U.S. Attorneys who advise the Attorney General on policy matters. Mercer also served as a member of the AGAC from 2001 to 2004, during which time he chaired the AGAC's Sentencing Guidelines Subcommittee. Mercer also serves on the Advisory Committee on Appellate Rules for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Mercer received his law degree from the George Mason University School of Law, his degree of Master of Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and his undergraduate degree, with honors, from the University of Montana.

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