Anne Tompkins
Encyclopedia
Anne Magee Tompkins is an American lawyer
who serves as the United States Attorney
for the Western District of North Carolina
.
, Tompkins attended Central Piedmont Community College
and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte
where she earned a Bachelor of Arts
degree in political science. She then went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
, where she was awarded a Master in Public Administration and a Juris Doctor
.
District Attorney's office in 1992 as an Assistant D.A., staying for five years until April 1997. After a brief interlude in private practice in Charlotte, she returned to the Mecklenburg County D.A.'s office just six months after leaving. In May 2000, she left the D.A.'s office to become an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Western District of North Carolina, serving for five years. While working as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, she was detailed to Baghdad
for eight months to help prosecute Saddam Hussein
.
In August 2005, Tompkins joined Alston & Bird, a Charlotte law practice, as a partner. There, she specialized in white collar criminal defense and corporate compliance.
On December 23, 2009, Tompkins was nominated by President Barack Obama
to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved her nomination unanimously on March 25, 2010; she gained unanimous approval from the full Senate on April 22.
On March 18, 2011, Tompkins attracted controversy when she described a man's minting of his own currency as "a unique form of domestic terrorism
". The comment related to the successful conviction of Bernard von NotHaus
, who was found guilty of creating and distributing a counterfeit currency.
of the Western District of Washington, Laura Duffy
of the Southern District of California
and Robert L. Pitman
of the Western District of Texas.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
who serves as the United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
for the Western District of North Carolina
United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina
The United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina is a Federal district court which covers the western third of North Carolina....
.
Early life and education
Born in Waynesboro, VirginiaWaynesboro, Virginia
Waynesboro, deriving its name from General Anthony Wayne, is an independent city surrounded by Augusta County in the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 21,006 in 2010.....
, Tompkins attended Central Piedmont Community College
Central Piedmont Community College
Central Piedmont Community College is a large community college in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. The school was founded in 1963; it is the result of a merger between Mecklenburg College and the Central Industrial Education Center....
and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte , also known as UNC Charlotte or simply Charlotte, is a public research university located in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States...
where she earned a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in political science. She then went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, where she was awarded a Master in Public Administration and a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
.
Professional career
Tompkins joined the Mecklenburg CountyMecklenburg County, North Carolina
-Air:The county's primary commercial aviation airport is Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte.- Intercity rail :With twenty-five freight trains a day, Mecklenburg is a freight railroad transportation center, largely due to its place on the NS main line between Washington and Atlanta...
District Attorney's office in 1992 as an Assistant D.A., staying for five years until April 1997. After a brief interlude in private practice in Charlotte, she returned to the Mecklenburg County D.A.'s office just six months after leaving. In May 2000, she left the D.A.'s office to become an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Western District of North Carolina, serving for five years. While working as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, she was detailed to Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
for eight months to help prosecute Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
.
In August 2005, Tompkins joined Alston & Bird, a Charlotte law practice, as a partner. There, she specialized in white collar criminal defense and corporate compliance.
On December 23, 2009, Tompkins was nominated by President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved her nomination unanimously on March 25, 2010; she gained unanimous approval from the full Senate on April 22.
On March 18, 2011, Tompkins attracted controversy when she described a man's minting of his own currency as "a unique form of domestic terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
". The comment related to the successful conviction of Bernard von NotHaus
Bernard von NotHaus
Bernard von NotHaus is the creator of the Liberty Dollar and co-founder of the Royal Hawaiian Mint Company. He created the Free Marijuana Church of Honolulu...
, who was found guilty of creating and distributing a counterfeit currency.
Personal
Tompkins is a lesbian. She is one of four openly LGBT U.S. Attorneys, alongside Jenny DurkanJenny Durkan
Jenny Anne Durkan is an American lawyer from Seattle, Washington who serves as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Washington.- Early life and education :...
of the Western District of Washington, Laura Duffy
Laura Duffy
Laura Elizabeth Duffy is an American lawyer who serves as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of California.- Early life and education :...
of the Southern District of California
United States Attorney for the Southern District of California
The United States Attorney for the Southern District of California is the United States Attorney responsible for representing the federal government in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California....
and Robert L. Pitman
Robert L. Pitman
Robert Lee Pitman is an American lawyer who serves as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas. He was previously a magistrate judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas.-Early life and education:...
of the Western District of Texas.