Erek Barron
Erek L. Barron (born 1974)[1] is an American attorney and politician serving as the United States Attorney for the District of Maryland since 2021. He is a former member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 24th district.[2]
Erek Barron | |
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United States Attorney for the District of Maryland | |
Assumed office October 7, 2021 | |
President | Joe Biden |
Preceded by | Robert K. Hur |
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 24th district | |
In office January 14, 2015 – October 7, 2021 | |
Preceded by | Darren Swain |
Succeeded by | Faye Martin Howell |
Personal details | |
Born | 1974 (age 47–48) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Residence(s) | Bowie, Maryland, U.S. |
Education | University of Maryland, College Park (BA) George Washington University (JD) Georgetown University (LLM) |
Early life and education
Barron was born in Washington, D.C., and attended the Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia. In 1996, he graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Three years later, he earned a Juris Doctor from the George Washington University Law School and was admitted to the Maryland Bar the same year. He later earned a Master of Laws, with a focus on International Law and National Security Law, from Georgetown University Law Center.[1]
Career
Barron has worked for the Maryland law firm of Whiteford, Taylor & Preston and is a member of the American Bar Association. Barron is a former prosecutor and has worked as an assistant state's attorney for Prince George's County and Baltimore City (2001–2006), a trial attorney in United States Department of Justice (2006–2007), and counsel and policy advisor to the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary and Senator Joe Biden (2007–2009).[1]
Maryland Legislature
Barron first won election to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2014. He was sworn into office on January 14, 2015.[2]
In 2016, Barron pushed for the Justice Reinvestment Act to include a repeal of mandatory minimum sentencing laws.[3]
U.S. Attorney for Maryland
On July 26, 2021, Barron was nominated to be the United States Attorney for the District of Maryland.[4][5] On September 23, 2021, his nomination was reported out of committee by voice vote.[6] On September 30, 2021, his nomination was confirmed in the United States Senate by voice vote.[7] On October 7, 2021, he was sworn into office by chief judge James K. Bredar.[8] He is Maryland's first black U.S. Attorney.[9]
References
- "Questionnaire for Non-Judicial Nominees" (PDF). United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- "Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney (Maryland)". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. October 20, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
- Wiggins, Ovetta (June 1, 2016). "How Maryland came to repeal mandatory minimums for drug offenders". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
- "President Biden Announces Eight Nominees to Serve as U.S. Attorneys" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. July 26, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- Tucker, Eric (July 26, 2021). "8 US attorney picks by Biden would include historic firsts". WTOP-FM. Associated Press. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
- "Results of Executive Business Meeting – September 23, 2021" (PDF). United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
- "PN926 - Nomination of Erek L. Barron for Department of Justice, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". Congress.gov. September 30, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- "Erek L. Barron Sworn-In as the 49th United States Attorney for the District of Maryland" (Press release). Baltimore, Maryland: U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland. October 7, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- Fenton, Justin (October 7, 2021). "Former Del. Erek Barron sworn in to became Maryland's first Black U.S. Attorney". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 7, 2021.