ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT APPOINTS NEW CHAIR
TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Attorney General John Ashcroft has appointed Mary Beth Buchanan, United States Attorney, Western District of Pennsylvania, to serve as Chair of the Attorney General's Advisory Committee of United States Attorneys. She will serve a one-year term effective April 4, 2003. Buchanan replaces Paul Warner, United States Attorney, District of Utah, whose term expires in April and who will continue to serve as an ex officio member.

The 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.

In his announcement, Attorney General Ashcroft said, "Ms. Buchanan will provide strong leadership to this Committee as we work together to protect the rights of all Americans and to prosecute those who would threaten this nation's freedom. Her tenure as United States Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania has been very impressive and her work with the Advisory Committee's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Working Group (CEOS) has been invaluable."

"I am honored by my selection as the Chair of the AGAC," said Ms. Buchanan. "The talent, experience and knowledge of the AGAC members is truly remarkable and constitutes an important asset to the Department of Justice. I look forward to working with my fellow United States Attorneys to accomplish the Department's priorities of preventing terrorism, combating corporate fraud, reducing the availability of illegal drugs to Americans, and reducing gun violence." Ms. Buchanan also serves on the Advisory Committee's subcommittees on Terrorism and National Security, White Collar Fraud, Civil Rights, and Gun Crime/Violent Crime/Organized Crime.

Buchanan was appointed United States Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania on October 15, 2001. Prior to her appointment as United States Attorney, she was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania (1988-2001). In January 2002, Ms. Buchanan was appointed by the United States Sentencing Commission to serve on an advisory group to review the general effectiveness of the corporate sentencing guidelines.

The following is a list of the full 2003 Advisory Committee:

Mary Beth Buchanan, United States Attorney, Western District of Pennsylvania, ChairPaul J. McNulty, United States Attorney, Eastern District of Virginia, Vice Chair

Susan W. Brooks, United States Attorney, Southern District of Indiana

Timothy M. Burgess, United States Attorney, District of Alaska

Jeffrey G. Collins, United States Attorney, Eastern District of Michigan

James B. Comey, United States Attorney, Southern District of New York

Patrick J. Fitzgerald, United States Attorney, Northern District of Illinois

Todd P. Graves, United States Attorney, Western District of Missouri

David C. Iglesias, United States Attorney, District of New Mexico

Marcos Daniel Jiménez, United States Attorney, Southern District of Florida

Charles W. Larson, Sr., United States Attorney, Northern District of Iowa

William W. Mercer, United States Attorney, District of Montana

Michael T. Shelby, United States Attorney, Southern District of TexasJohnny K. Sutton, United States Attorney, Western District of Texas

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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