New York's History...
On September 24, 1789, President George Washington signed into law the Judiciary Act, which marked the beginning of our national system of American law. Two days later, the President commissioned Richard Harison as the first "United States Attorney for the New York District." On November 3, 1789, thirteen weeks before the Supreme Court held its first session, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York opened its courtroom in a market building, located at the foot of Broad Street in lower Manhattan. One of its first orders of business was to record Richard Harison's commission as the United States Attorney for this District. By the spring of 1790, the United States Attorney's Office had brought successfully its first criminal and civil cases before a New York Federal court.
From those early days and throughout its history, the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York has distinguished itself as one of the nation's premier legal institutions by consistently taking center stage in the evolutionary process of our constitutional mandate, as well as spearheading innovative federal litigation and law enforcement efforts. Because of this leadership role and a long standing tradition of independence, incorruptibility and dedication to the public interest, many bright men and women continue to be attracted to serve as Assistant United States Attorneys in this District. Over the years, the many men and women who have served in the Office have become leaders in their communities, law schools, the bench and the bar. Southern District alumni and alumnae have made enormous contributions in many of the nation's leading judicial tribunals--the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals, the United States District Courts, the New York Court of Appeals, the New York State Supreme Courts, and others. In the private legal sector, major law firms carry the names of former Assistants, names like Webster, Dewey, Schwartz, Thacher, Coudert, Leisure, Newton, Reavis, Cahill, Patterson. And, the Office alumni and alumnae frequently contribute to the political process as federal, state and local legislators and officials, and molders of the public administration and policy positions. Throughout their work, they have continued to be guided by a tradition learned in the Southern District--a tradition of excellence.
Felix Frankfurter, an early alumnus of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York (1906-09), observed that no one beginning a legal career in that Office "could possibly have a more desirable, more deepening, and altogether more precious influence during his formative years." Justice Frankfurter's observations continue true today. Assistant United States Attorneys have the opportunity to represent the interests of the United States of America and, in performing this important public service, to exercise responsibility that is unparalleled in any other job that a litigator might undertake. The excitement and pride inherent in being an Assistant United States Attorney resonate throughout the Office and are echoed every day by former Assistants who say that this was the best job they have ever had.