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Briefing Room

The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
November 30, 2009

President Obama Nominates Four U.S Attorneys

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Obama nominated the following individuals to serve as United States Attorneys:

  • Christopher A. Crofts, District of Wyoming
  • James L. Santelle, Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • Thomas G. Walker, Eastern District of North Carolina
  • Barbara L. McQuade,  Eastern District of Michigan

“These fine attorneys have a extensive legal experience and a shared commitment to public service,” President Obama said.  “I am thrilled that they will continue their service by pursuing justice on behalf of the American people as United States Attorneys.”

Christopher A. Crofts: Nominee for U.S. Attorney, District of Wyoming
Christopher Crofts, 67, has served as legal counsel to Wyoming Governor David Freudenthal since 2006.  Prior to that, Mr. Crofts worked as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Wyoming for sixteen years, including an eight month detail to Iraq beginning in late 2005.  In 1978, Mr. Crofts was a legal advisor for the Wyoming Division of Criminal investigation, serving as director of that organization from 1981 to 1990.  Mr. Crofts was a county judge in Fremont County, Wyoming, from 1976 to 1978 and an associate at Hamilton and Hursh, P.C. in Riverton, Wyoming from 1975 to 1976.  He also served on active duty in the United States Army from 1965 to 1969, when he received an honorable discharge.  Mr. Crofts graduated from the University of Wyoming (1965) and the University of Wyoming College of Law (1974).

James L. Santelle: Nominee for U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Wisconsin
James Santelle, 51, has served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin since 1985.  During that time, Mr. Santelle worked on details as Principal Deputy Director for the Executive Office of United States Attorneys from 1991 to 2001, Civil Division Chief for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan from 2003 to 2004, and United States Department of Justice Attaché and Rule of Law Coordinator to the United States Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, from 2006 to 2008.  From 1983 to 1985, he was a law clerk for the Honorable Robert W. Warren of the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Wisconsin.  Mr. Santelle graduated from Marquette University (1980) and the University of Chicago Law School (1985).

Thomas G. Walker: Nominee for U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of North Carolina
Thomas Walker, 45, is a partner at Alston & Bird, LLP, where he has worked since 2003.  Prior to that, Mr. Walker worked as special counsel to North Carolina Attorney General Roy A. Cooper, III, from 2001 to 2003.  He also served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina from 1994 to 2001 and an Assistant District Attorney for Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, from 1990 to 1994.  Mr. Walker graduated from Baylor University (1986) and Campbell University (1990).

Barbara L. McQuade: Nominee for U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Michigan
Barbara McQuade, 44, has been an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan for the last eleven years, becoming Deputy Chief of the National Security Unit in 2005.  Prior to that, Ms. McQuade was an associate attorney at Butzel Long, P.C., from 1993 to 1998.  She began her legal career as a law clerk for the Honorable Bernard A. Friedman of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan from 1991 to 1993.  Ms. McQuade graduated from the University of Michigan (1987) and the University of Michigan School of Law (1991).