Senate Confirms Critical Law Enforcement Positions Following Unanimous Consent Request

WASHINGTON – Today, the Senate confirmed the nominations of eight U.S. Attorneys (USAs) and two U.S. Marshals (USMs) following a unanimous consent (UC) request by U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH).  The nominees included Ryan K. Buchanan, to be United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia; Jason M. Frierson, to be United States Attorney for the District of Nevada; Mark A. Totten, to be United States Attorney for the Western District of Michigan; Marisa T. Darden, to be United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio; Delia L. Smith, to be United States Attorney for the District of the Virgin Islands; Eddie M. Frizell, to be United States Marshal for the District of Minnesota; LaDon A. Reynolds, to be United States Marshal for the Northern District of Illinois; Trina A. Higgins, to be United States Attorney for the District of Utah; Jane E. Young, to be United States Attorney for the District of New Hampshire; and Vanessa Roberts Avery, to be United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut.

“All of today’s nominees are eminently qualified to take on these roles, to prosecute crimes and bring civil actions on behalf of the government, and to help safeguard our communities across America,” said U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. 

Today’s confirmations follow three months of attempts by Durbin to confirm these USAs and USMs.  Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) twice objected to Durbin’s efforts to confirm USA and USM nominees.  Today, the junior Senator from Arkansas withdrew his objection following an exchange with Brown on the Senate floor.

For decades, the Senate has confirmed U.S. Attorneys and U.S. Marshals by voice vote or unanimous consent after they have been considered in the Judiciary Committee.  Before the 117th Congress, the last time the Senate required a roll call vote on confirmation of a U.S. Attorney nominee was 1975.  During the Trump Administration, 85 of President Trump’s U.S. Attorney nominees moved through the Judiciary Committee—of those 85, the Senate confirmed all by unanimous consent.

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