United States Attorney for the Northern District of California

The United States attorney for the Northern District of California is responsible for representing the federal government in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.

U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California
Agency overview
JurisdictionNorthern District of California
Agency executive
Map
{{{map_alt}}}
Northern District of California

The Northern District of California encompasses 15 Northern California counties from Del Norte in the north to Monterey in the south. The District contains three major metropolitan areas in San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose; an expanse of suburban and rural area; and more than 300 public companies centered on Silicon Valley. Nearly 9 million people live, work, and raise their families in the Northern District of California.

In an effort to help protect these individuals, the United States Attorney’s Office prosecutes violations of federal law and represents the United States in civil litigation in the District. The Assistant United States Attorneys (“AUSAs”) who work in the U.S. Attorney's Office prosecute criminal violations, defend civil lawsuits against the United States, and litigate actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers.

As of March 21, 2023 the United States attorney is Ismail Ramsey.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California has offices in San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose.

Divisions

  • Criminal Division: Responsible for prosecutions of federal crimes, including bank and bankruptcy fraud; consumer, elder, government, and health care fraud; child exploitation and human trafficking; civil rights; criminal immigration; cybercrimes; environmental crimes; national security; narcotics; public corruption; securities fraud; tax; trade secrets theft; and violent crimes. Sections within the Criminal Division are: Appellate; Asset Forfeiture; General Crimes; Corporate Fraud Strike Force; Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF); Organized Crime Strike Force; Special Prosecutions.
  • Civil Division: Responsible for representing the United States in civil suits. The Civil Division includes Civil Defensive, Affirmative Civil Enforcement, and the Financial Litigation Unit.
  • Administrative Division: Responsible for providing a full range of office support and employee services.

Formed

The U.S. Attorney’s Office was formed by Act of September 28, 1850, Chap. 86, P.L. 81-36, 9 Stat. 521.

Historical list of U.S. Attorneys for the Northern District of California

U.S. Attorney Type of Appointment Date of Commission
Calhoun Benham Presidential September 28, 1850
Samuel W. Inge Presidential April 1, 1853
William Blanding Presidential July 15, 1856
Peter Della Torre Recess May 19, 1857
Peter Della Torre Presidential May 11, 1858
Calhoun Benham Presidential May 11, 1860
William H. Sharp Recess April 9, 1861
William H. Sharp Presidential July 22, 1861
Delos Lake Presidential August or September 1864
F.M. Pixley Recess May 11, 1868
Lorenzo D. Latimer Presidential December 21, 1869
Walter Van Dyke Presidential December 18, 1873
John M. Coghlan Presidential April 19, 1876
Philip Teare Presidential June 15, 1878
Samuel G. Hilborn Presidential January 4, 1883
John T. Carey Recess November 20, 1886
John T. Carey Presidential January 13, 1887
Charles A. Garter Recess October 14, 1890
Charles A. Garter Presidential December 11, 1890
Samuel Knight Court December 11, 1894
Henry S. Foote Presidential February 20, 1895
Frank L. Coombs Presidential February 14, 1899
Marshall B. Woodworth Presidential March 2, 1901
Robert T. Devlin Presidential March 8, 1905
Robert T. Devlin Presidential April 25, 1910
John L. McNab Presidential April 9, 1912
Benjamin L. McKinley Court June 26, 1913
Annette Abbott Adams Court July 25, 1913
John W. Preston Presidential December 22, 1913
John W. Preston Presidential January 8, 1918
Annette Abbott Adams Presidential August 5, 1919
Frank M. Silva Recess June 10, 1920
Frank M. Silva Court March 7, 1921
J.T. Williams Recess August 27, 1921
J.T. Williams Presidential September 27, 1921
Sterling Carr Court July 11, 1924
George J. Hatfield Recess September 26, 1925
George J. Hatfield Presidential December 14, 1925
George J. Hatfield Presidential December 18, 1929
I.M. Peckham Court January 3, 1933
Henry H. McPike Presidential May 13, 1933
Frank J. Hennessy Presidential August 14, 1937
Frank J. Hennessy Presidential July 25, 1940
Frank J. Hennessy Presidential November 7, 1941
Chauncey F. Tramutolo Presidential April 19, 1951
Lloyd H. Burke Presidential April 16, 1953
Lloyd H. Burke Presidential May 24, 1957
Robert H. Schnacke Court August 6, 1958
Robert H. Schnacke Presidential August 8, 1958
Lynn J. Gillard Court June 1, 1959
Lynn J. Gillard Presidential August 29, 1959
Lawrence E. Dayton Presidential May 19, 1960
Cecil F. Poole Presidential June 28, 1961
Cecil F. Poole Presidential June 9, 1966
James L. Browning, Jr. Presidential December 24, 1969
James L. Browning, Jr. Presidential May 21, 1974
G. William Hunter Presidential November 7, 1977
Rodney H. Hamblin Court October 1, 1981
Joseph P. Russoniello Presidential January 6, 1982
Joseph P. Russoniello Presidential November 5, 1986
William T. McGivern, Jr. Attorney General March 17, 1990
William T. McGivern, Jr. Court July 15, 1990
John A. Mendez Attorney General August 10, 1992
John A. Mendez Court December 7, 1992
Michael J. Yamaguchi Attorney General July 4, 1993
Michael J. Yamaguchi Presidential October 27, 1993
Robert S. Mueller, III Attorney General August 24, 1998
Robert S. Mueller, III Court December 21, 1998
Robert S. Mueller, III Presidential October 13, 1999
David W. Shapiro Attorney General September 4, 2001
David W. Shapiro Court January 2, 2002
Kevin V. Ryan Attorney General July 16, 2002
Kevin V. Ryan Presidential August 2, 2002
Scott N. Schools Attorney General February 17, 2007
Scott N. Schools Court October 13, 2007
Joseph P. Russoniello Presidential January 4, 2008
Melinda Haag Presidential August 13, 2010
Brian J. Stretch Acting (Vacancies Reform Act) September 1, 2015
Brian J. Stretch Attorney General March 30, 2016
Brian J. Stretch Court July 26, 2016
Alex Tse Acting (Vacancies Reform Act) January 7, 2018
Alex Tse Court August 5, 2018
David L. Anderson Presidential January 15, 2019
Stephanie Hinds Acting (Vacancies Reform Act) March 1, 2021
Stephanie Hinds Attorney General December 26, 2021
Ismail Ramsey Presidential March 21, 2023

References

  1. ^ "U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California". Retrieved 31 March 2023.