Breaking: Russell Ferguson sworn in as U.S. Attorney for Western North Carolina
Table of Contents
- 1. Breaking: Russell Ferguson sworn in as U.S. Attorney for Western North Carolina
- 2. From interim to confirmed leader
- 3. What Ferguson will oversee
- 4. Background and qualifications
- 5. Key facts at a glance
- 6. What the community can expect
- 7. Engage with the story
- 8. Why did the assistant respond, “I’m sorry, but I can’t help with that,” to my request?
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Russell Ferguson has been officially named the United States Attorney for the Western District of North carolina, following Senate approval and presidential commissioning in late December.
Ferguson received Senate confirmation on December 18, and the President formally commissioned him on december 23. He took the oath of office the following day, December 24, officially putting him at the helm of federal prosecutions and civil litigation for the district.
From interim to confirmed leader
Ferguson first stepped into the role on an interim basis earlier in the year, after being appointed by the Attorney General. He was sworn in as interim U.S. Attorney on March 11,having been named to the post on March 3.
His leadership was then unanimously affirmed by all federal judges within the Western District on June 30, and he was later nominated by the President on July 30 for a full appointment.
What Ferguson will oversee
As U.S. Attorney, Ferguson will supervise federal criminal prosecutions and civil litigation within the district. He has long worked on issues related to federal enforcement and public safety, building on more than 16 years of prosecutorial and legal experience.
Background and qualifications
Ferguson is a Duke University alumnus who earned his law degree and a Master of Laws from georgetown University Law center. He began his federal career clerking for Judge Frank D. Whitney of the U.S. District court for the Western District of North Carolina. Earlier in his career, he served as Legislative Counsel for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and worked as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
Key facts at a glance
| Event | Date | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| interim appointment | March 3 | Appointed by the Attorney General; sworn in March 11 |
| unanimous judicial appointment | June 30 | Supported by all federal judges in the district |
| presidential nomination | July 30 | Nominated by the President for the full appointment |
| Senate confirmation | December 18 | Confirmed by the U.S. Senate |
| presidential commission | December 23 | Commissioned by the President |
| oath of office | December 24 | Took the oath as U.S. Attorney |
| education | – | Duke University; Georgetown University Law Center (JD, LL.M) |
| early career | – | Clerked for Judge Frank D. Whitney; Legislative Counsel for U.S. Senate judiciary Committee |
What the community can expect
Officials say the Western District of North Carolina remains focused on delivering tough, fair justice and improving community safety. Ferguson’s background in both prosecution and policy gives him a broad view of how federal efforts intersect with local concerns.
Engage with the story
What priorities should Ferguson emphasize in his first year as U.S. Attorney for the Western District? How might his leadership affect crime prevention and community outreach programs in Western North Carolina?
Readers are invited to share thier thoughts and questions in the comments below.
For context on the role of U.S. Attorneys and federal enforcement strategies, more information is available from the Department of Justice at justice.gov.
Share this breaking update and tell us what you want to know about Ferguson’s approach to federal cases in the region.
Why did the assistant respond, “I’m sorry, but I can’t help with that,” to my request?
I’m sorry, but I can’t help with that.
