Maryland’s First African American U.S. Attorney?

Prince George’s County Del. Erek Barron slated to take the U.S. Attorney for Maryland Seat; First Democrat Selected in 20 Years

By Tiffany Young

Prince George’s County Del. Erek Barron has been nominated by U.S. President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. to become Maryland’s next U.S. Attorney. He would be making history as the first black top federal prosecutor in Maryland if confirmed by the U.S. Senate. There hasn’t been a Democrat in that seat in 20 years.

“We are Prince George’s Proud that our very own Delegate Erek Barron has been nominated by President Biden to be the next U.S. Attorney for Maryland,” said Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. “His work as both a state and federal prosecutor, as well as his efforts on criminal justice reform in the state legislature, make him an immensely qualified choice for this role.”

A resident of Bowie, Barron is a defense attorney and has been a member of the House of Delegates since 2015. Before that he had a brief career as a federal prosecutor and as an assistant state’s attorney in Prince George’s and Baltimore. Barron is also the Chairman of the Prince George’s County House Delegation.

Barron’s nomination comes with having a wealth of knowledge and expertise. As a former counsel and policy adviser to Biden, when he was a U.S. Senator from 2007 to 2009, he also served on the Obama-Biden transition team’s justice and civil rights review board.

“I want to extend my sincere congratulations to Delegate Erek Barron on his well-deserved and historic nomination for U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland,” said Prince George's County State's Attorney Aisha Braveboy.

On July 26, Barron and seven other U.S. Attorney nominees were announced which  included other historic firsts. Six of the nominations are Black; three are women. The last Democrat confirmed by the Senate as U.S. Attorney for Maryland was Lynne A. Battaglia in 2001.

Barron was a prosecutor in Prince George’s County from 2001 to 2004, and in Baltimore from 2004 to 2006. In Baltimore, he worked in a unit that handled gun cases.