Safeguarding Justice and Serving as the Voice of Assistant U.S. Attorneys
The National Association of Assistant United States Attorneys (NAAUSA) serves as the voice of Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSAs) within the Department of Justice and Congress. Since 1992, NAAUSA has worked to protect, promote, foster, and advance the mission of AUSAs and their responsibilities in promoting and preserving the Constitution of the United States, encouraging loyalty and dedication among AUSAs in support of the Department of Justice, and encouraging the just enforcement of laws of the United States.
NAAUSA works to understand the unique needs of AUSAs across the country though elected delegates in each of the 94 U.S. Attorney Offices. These delegates provide NAAUSA’s nineteen-member Board of Directors with information from the field and disseminate information on NAAUSA’s activities. The Board is comprised of both criminal prosecutors and civil attorneys from large and small offices around the country.
NAAUSA’s Executive Committee, made of several Board members, works closely with the Executive Director and Washington Representatives to provide member benefits and advocate on behalf of AUSAs before legislative and policy making bodies.
The Association is guided by its core pillars of action:
NAAUSA represents and advocates on behalf of the vital interests of AUSAs nationwide on legislation, policy, and work-life issues affecting their ability to serve the United States in the most honorable and professional manner.
NAAUSA, through its members, acts as the voice of AUSAs to safeguard the advancement of justice through a steadfast commitment to fairness, along with a duty to protect the federal judicial process, on behalf of the citizens of the United States.
NAAUSA represents a valuable and quality information resource to member AUSAs to guide them in their support of the rule of law and achieve a better work-life balance.
NAAUSA’s policy priorities include closing the significant pay gap between AUSAs and Department of Justice attorneys, defending the professionalism of AUSAs, and improving AUSA security. NAAUSA’s Washington Representatives keep the Association in-the-know about significant policy developments impacting AUSAs and their work safeguarding justice.
NAAUSA and the Department of Justice often work closely to support or oppose legislative initiatives impacting U.S. Attorney Offices. For example, NAAUSA and the Department have and continue to work together in opposition of legislation that would have transferred the authority to investigate allegations of wrongdoing by AUSAs from the Office of Professional Responsibility to the DOJ Office of Inspector General. NAAUSA and the Department engage in an ongoing dialogue with lawmakers on alternatives to improving the independence and transparency of attorney misconduct investigations to maintain the professionalism of AUSAs while properly defending their rights.
Members receive a quarterly newsletter with important updates for AUSAs, information on ongoing policy work on AUSAs behalf, upcoming webinar events hosted by NAAUSA and our partners, and opportunities for AUSAs.
This column is part of the FEDforum, an initiative to unite voices across the federal community. The FEDforum is a space for federal employee groups to share their organizations’ initiatives and activities with the FEDagent audience.
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