Anne Tompkins

Anne M. Tompkins
U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina
Incumbent
Assumed office April 2010
Appointed by	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Gretchen C.F. Shappert
Personal details
Born	1962 (age 53–54) Waynesboro, Virginia, U.S.
Residence	Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
Alma mater	University of North Carolina at Charlotte (B.A.) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (M.P.A./J.D.)

Anne Magee Tompkins (born 1962) is an American lawyer who serves as the United States Attorney for the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina.

Early life and education

Born in Waynesboro, Virginia, 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.^[1]

Professional career

Tompkins joined the Mecklenburg County 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.^[1] While working as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, she was detailed to Baghdad for eight months to help prosecute Saddam Hussein.^[2]

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.^[3]

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;^[4] she gained unanimous approval from the full Senate on April 22.^[5]

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" that is trying "to undermine the legitimate currency of this country.^[6] The comment related to the successful conviction of Bernard von NotHaus, who was found guilty of creating and distributing a counterfeit currency.^[7] The Justice Department press release on the matter quotes her as saying: “While these forms of anti-government activities do not involve violence, they are every bit as insidious and represent a clear and present danger to the economic stability of this country".^[8]

Personal

Tompkins is a lesbian. She is one of four openly LGBT U.S. Attorneys, alongside Jenny Durkan of the Western District of Washington, Laura Duffy of the Southern District of California and Robert L. Pitman of the Western District of Texas.^[9]

References

1. "Senate Judiciary Committee Questionnaire: Anne M. Tompkins" (PDF).
2. "Tompkins wins nomination as U.S. attorney: Charlotte lawyer said she is 'honored' by Obama's decision to select her". Charlotte Observer. December 25, 2009.
3. "Anne Tompkins Confirmed as the Next United States Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina". Alston & Byrd LLP.
4. "Senate panel endorses U.S. Attorney nominee". Charlotte Observer. March 26, 2010.
5. "Two Hagan-recommended nominees in Western District are confirmed by the U.S. Senate". Office of U.S. Senator Kay Hagan. April 22, 2010.
6. "U.S. Attorney calls currency minting 'terrorism'". Politico. March 19, 2011.
7. "Man convicted of creating counterfeit U.S. currency". Reuters. March 20, 2011.
8. Id.
9. Song, Kyung M. (June 21, 2010). "Coming out helps lessen others' fears, says U.S. Attorney Durkan". Seattle Times. Archived from the original on 26 June 2010. Retrieved June 22, 2010.

External links

• U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of North Carolina