Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has named the distinguished winners of the 70th and 71st Attorney General's Awards, celebrating the extraordinary efforts of Department of Justice staff and their collaborators. As reported by the Department of Justice website, over 800 nominees were considered for the prestigious accolades, which honor those committed to upholding the law in America.
In a significant nod to the dedication and skill of legal teams, two prosecution teams from the District of Minnesota received the Attorney General's David Margolis Award for Exceptional Service. "Each of today's recipients has served with distinction, and in so doing, they have enabled the Justice Department to advance its work on behalf of the American people," said AG Garland. "Their exceptional leadership, heroism, and dedication have benefited people and communities across the country," he added.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Honors Justice Department Employees and Partners for the 70th and 71st Annual Attorney General’s Awardshttps://t.co/aMUnHgYQEc pic.twitter.com/TOUXPqBSXb
— U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) January 31, 2024
The 2022 recognition was awarded to the team responsible for the United States v. Chauvin, et al. case, which successfully prosecuted four former police officers for violating George Floyd's civil rights, leading to his tragic death. The team included Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allen Slaughter, Evan Gilead, LeeAnn Bell, Manda Sertich, and Samantha Bates; paralegals, victim/witness specialists, and a litigation support specialist from the District of Minnesota, alongside FBI and Civil Rights Division professionals.
For their unwavering commitment to justice in 2023, a group succeeded in prosecuting an international sex trafficking ring that coerced hundreds of Thai women into commercial sex across the United States, as noted in United States v. Sumalee Intarathong, et al. and United States v. Michael Morris, et al. This team was composed of Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the District of Minnesota, alongside HSI, IRS agents, a special agent from the Minnesota Department of Commerce, and directors from the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit.
US Attorney Andrew Luger hailed the award as the Department of Justice’s top honor for employee performance. "The prosecutors, agents, paralegals, victim/witness, and litigation support specialists on these teams showed exceptional skill and professionalism in their work on two monumental civil rights cases, cases that will have a lasting impact for years to come. I am so proud of these individuals and their outstanding work and commitment in service of justice," Luger expressed. To view all of this year's recipients, justice enthusiasts can head to the official Department of Justice site for the full rundown.
