Welcome to Alexandria, Mr. MacBride;Here are your New Cases...

Photo by FLICKR/87913776@N00/3432037030/ It should be a very busy next few years for MacBride, who will find out soon just how many prisoners from Guatanamo Bay to expect as new cases to try in the Eastern District.

ALEXANDRIA, VA. -  Filling the spot once held by Alexander Hamilton, Neil H. MacBride, was formally sworn in as the 59th U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia by Senior United States District Judge Henry C. Morgan Jr. Friday at a ceremony at the federal courthouse in Alexandria, which included remarks by Attorney General Eric Holder.
        
“This is a great day for the Eastern District of Virginia, the Department of Justice, and the nation,” said Holder, who served as U.S. Attorney in the District of Columbia when MacBride worked as a prosecutor in that office. “Neil serves as an integral part of my Justice Department team. He has devoted his life to public service, and wherever he has served, he has served well and with distinction. I will repeatedly call on this new U.S. Attorney, my friend, as we strive to keep this nation safe.”
        
Unanimously confirmed by the Senate on Sept. 15, MacBride was administered the oath of office by United States District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema in a private meeting on Sept. 18.
        

Courtesy photo/Houtghton College Neil H. MacBride is the 59th US Attorney for the Eastern District

It should be a very busy next few years for MacBride, who will find out soon just how many prisoners from Guatanamo Bay, Cuba to expect as new cases to try in the Eastern District. Several lawmakers, including Mayor Bill Euille and Reps. Jim Moran (D-VA.) and Frank Wolf (R-VA.) have argued vociferously against moving Gitmo prisoners to the Alexandria Jail, citing the security risk to the state's most densely-populated city and the high-profile targets nearby.  
        
As United States Attorney, MacBride supervises the prosecution of all federal crimes and the litigation of civil matters in which the federal government has an interest. He oversees the work of more than 200 attorneys and support staff in Alexandria, Richmond, Newport News, and Norfolk in a jurisdiction covering 4.7 million residents.
        
“I'll work hard every day to continue the tremendous legacy of this office by supporting you in every way I can,” MacBride said in his remarks. “I’m fortunate to stand on the shoulders of the great men and women who came before me. I am honored to be part of this Justice Department, and I am immensely honored to serve as the U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia.”
        
MacBride, 44, served as a law clerk 17 years ago in the Norfolk federal courthouse, spending a year under the tutelage of United States District Judge Morgan, who performed the swearing-in ceremony Friday.
        
“I have been blessed to work for many incredible people; few have had as much impact on me personally and professionally as Judge Morgan,” MacBride said. “The Eastern District of Virginia gave me my first job as a lawyer, and the honor of clerking for one of its most distinguished judges, one who daily modeled what it means to apply the law fairly, mindful of its consequences on everyday people.”
        
On Oct. 26,  Holder appointed MacBride to serve a two-year term on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee. Created in 1973, the AGAC represents the voice of the U.S. Attorneys and provides advice and counsel to the Attorney General on policy, management and operational issues impacting the Offices of the U.S. Attorneys. MacBride was selected to chair the AGAC’s Terrorism and National Security Subcommittee.

“The highest priority of this Justice Department – and this Attorney General – is to protect the American people from terrorists,” MacBride said. “Last week the Attorney General asked this District to again join forces with the Southern District of New York to hold accountable the terrorists who orchestrated the 9/11 attacks.  We are honored to participate again as partners with SDNY.”

Before serving as United States Attorney, MacBride was Associate Deputy Attorney General at the Department of Justice, where he worked on criminal justice and law enforcement issues. He was also an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia where he tried dozens of felony cases, including homicides and narcotics conspiracies, firearm offenses and fraud and property crimes.

In addition to his service in the Department of Justice, MacBride served as chief counsel and staff director for the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs.  He has also practiced criminal and civil litigation at a D.C., law firm now known as DLA Piper and served as general counsel and vice president of the Business Software Alliance, a technology trade association.

MacBride is a graduate of Houghton College and the University of Virginia School of Law.  

Contact the writer at jarundel@localkicks.com