Kalamazoo’s Mark Totten, legal counsel to Gov. Whitmer, sworn in as U.S. Attorney

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Kalamazoo resident Mark Totten, former legal counsel for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, has been sworn in as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan.

Main U.S. District Choose Robert Jonker administered the oath of office environment Thursday, May well 5, at the Gerald R. Ford Federal Building in Grand Rapids.

Totten was nominated by President Joe Biden and verified past month by the U.S. Senate.

“This office has a prolonged historical past of securing justice and guarding the people of Michigan with diligence and integrity,” Totten said in a statement.

“I appear forward to primary this superb staff of committed lawyers and assist employees and functioning with other companions at this essential moment.”

Totten was born and raised in Kalamazoo. He continues to reside there.

He was serving as chief lawful counsel for the governor’s business prior to turning out to be U.S. Lawyer.

He was a law professor at Michigan State University from 2008 to 2018 and experienced worked element-time as a distinctive assistant U.S. attorney from 2011 to 2013 in the office he now leads.

He commenced his authorized vocation in the U.S. Division of Justice, Civil Appellate Staff, in Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Attorney’s Business office for the Western District of Michigan covers the western 50 percent of Michigan’s Reduced Peninsula and the total Upper Peninsula. The most important office environment is in Grand Rapids with staffed offices in Lansing and Marquette and an unstaffed office in Kalamazoo.

The business office has 42 lawyers and 44 assistance employees.

Whitmer reported in a statement: “As a former prosecutor, I simply cannot imagine a extra capable chief to serve as U.S. Lawyer for the Western District of Michigan – the area that Mark calls household. He is a passionate public servant who will do a phenomenal position as a U.S. Attorney.”

He replaces Andrew Birge, was named acting U.S. Attorney on Jan. 20, 2017 by former U.S. Legal professional Jeff Periods soon after Patrick Miles stepped down. Federal judges were necessary to appoint a U.S. Lawyer after a successor to Miles was not confirmed inside of 120 days.

Birge, who has been in the U.S. Attorney’s Officer, for around 20 years, will keep on as a federal prosecutor.

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