Tara M. Lyons has been appointed Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, making history as the first Black woman to hold the position. She took on the role last Saturday, under the Vacancies Reform Act. Lyons will oversee a district covering 43 counties, including major cities like Savannah and Augusta, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Lyons has had a 20-year career with the Department of Justice, focusing on prosecuting violent crime, human trafficking, and child exploitation. Before her current role, she was First Assistant U.S. Attorney starting in April 2023. She also led efforts to prevent gun violence in South Carolina as the Project Sentry Coordinator and worked on child protection as Project Safe Childhood Coordinator in Georgia, as reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
With over 1.6 million people in the district, she leads federal prosecutions, civil defense, and debt collection, overseeing a team of more than 70 attorneys and staff. Her experience includes serving as a law clerk, Public Defender, attorney advisor for U.S. Attorneys, Assistant U.S. Attorney in South Carolina, and Deputy Chief in the Southern District of Georgia's Criminal Division. Focused on civil rights, her leadership and expertise will guide her office in pursuing justice, as stated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
