Margaret "Meg" Heap has taken the oath to become the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The ceremony, held at the U.S. Courthouse in Augusta, marked the commencement of Heap's leadership in federal law enforcement in the district. U.S. District Judge. J. Randal Hall administered the oath at 11:00 a.m., as reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
In a statement obtained by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Heap expressed her dedication to the community stating, "I am incredibly honored to serve as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia." She added, "I look forward to working with our partners in law enforcement to make this a safer place to live and raise our children." Heap's path to this role included service as Chairman and Vice Chair of Georgia's State Board of Pardons and Paroles and tenure as an Assistant District Attorney.
Heap's legal expertise is well-established, launching with a position as a Volunteer Coordinator and Victim Advocate in the Chatham County District Attorney’s Victim-Witness Assistance Program in 1986. After earning her Juris Doctor from Mercer University Law School in 1992, she honed her prosecutorial skills in the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit, per details from the U.S. Attorney’s Office press release.
During her stint at the Eastern Judicial Circuit from 1995-2010, Heap's efforts in prosecuting felonies in Superior and Juvenile Courts paved her way to the role of District Attorney, where she was honored as "2019 District Attorney of the Year." As U.S. Attorney, she now oversees a team of approximately 70 attorneys and staff, carrying the mantle as the chief federal law enforcement officer across 43 counties, including the cities of Savannah, Augusta, and Brunswick. Further information on her district can be found at the district's official website.
Heap takes charge at a pivotal time, with the Southern District of Georgia home to over 1.6 million people. Her office is tasked with prosecuting federal crimes and defending civil cases in U.S. District Court. For inquiries, the U.S. Attorney's Office can be reached at (912) 652-4422, as informed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
