Next U.S. attorney in western Washington is Steilacoom grad Nick Brown
Nick Brown was sworn in Friday as U.S. attorney in western Washington. Nominated in July by President Joe Biden, Brown is the first Black top federal prosecutor in the state.
Brown, 44, served as general counsel to Gov. Jay Inslee from 2013 to 2017. Most recently, he was a litigation partner at Pacifica Law Group in Seattle where he handled complex civil and regulatory litigation, public policy, municipal law and other matters for public and private clients.
Before his time in Inslee’s office, Brown served as an assistant U.S. attorney in Western Washington from 2007 to 2013.
“I am humbled to return to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and my outstanding colleagues, who devote their careers to seeking justice and public service,” Brown said in a news release. “As the chief law enforcement officer in Western Washington, I am excited about working with our communities and federal partners to improve public safety and to ensure civil rights for all our residents.”
The next U.S. attorney is also a Washington native with Pierce County ties.
Brown graduated from Steilacoom High School in 1995 and was voted “best all around personality” of his class. Others might remember him as a contestant on the second season of “Survivor,” which aired in 2001.
He received his B.A. from Morehouse College in 1999 and, after his stint on “Survivor,” graduated from Harvard Law School in 2002. Brown went on to serve as a judge advocate general in the Army until 2007. He served at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Fort Bliss, Texas and in Baghdad.
As counsel to Inslee, Brown helped the governor navigate issues including the 2014 moratorium on the death penalty and tension with the federal government after Washington and Colorado became the first states to legalize the sale of marijuana for adults.
During his previous tenure with the U.S. attorney’s office, Brown prosecuted more than 100 cases ranging from complex firearm and drug trafficking matters to child sex abuse and financial fraud.
Brown takes over from acting U.S. attorney Tessa Gorman, who has served in the role since former U.S. attorney Brian Moran left the office in February.
