First Assistant United States Attorney Carlton S. Shier IV was promoted and named the Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, subject to the Vacancies Reform Act. Carlton Shier takes over in the Office on January 24, 2021, following the stepping down of former U.S. Attorney Robert M. Duncan, Jr., and shall preside over the Office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky for 300 days or until such time that President-elect Joe Biden appoints a new U.S. Attorney for the district, and is confirmed by the Senate.
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Education
In 1992, U.S. Attorney Carlton Shier received his undergraduate degree from Centre College. Two years later, he received his Master of Science in Justice Administration from the University of Louisville in 1994 and subsequently earned his Juris Doctorate in 1997.
Legal Career
U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier IV has a wealth of experience. He initially served as a State Court Prosecutor, wherein he performed duties in both the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office and the Fayette County Attorney’s Office. In this capacity, U.S. Attorney Shier was a principal representative of the said states in all matters related to criminal offenses’ adjudication. Following his government service, U.S. Attorney shifted to private practice and joined a law firm in Lexington. Furthermore, Carlton S. Shier IV once served as the Deputy General Counsel in the Office of Legal Services of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services of Kentucky, providing reasoned advice, counsel, and skilled representation to the entities of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.
Becoming a part of the Office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky for the first time in 2010, U.S. Attorney Carlton Shier was appointed as the Chief of the Civil Division. During his service as the Chief, U.S. Attorney Shier managed the Civil Division and represented the United States, and its entities in both federal and state courts, handling litigations involving Affirmative Civil Enforcement, Civil Defense, and Financial Litigations.
Over the succeeding years, U.S. Attorney Shier was appointed to serve as the First Assistant United States Attorney to former U.S. Attorney Kerry B. Harvey for about four years, from April of 2013 to 2017. Upon the resignation of Kerry Harvey in January of 2017, U.S. Attorney Shier took over in the Office and was appointed to be the Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky at the time. He served in the position for approximately nine months, from January to November of 2017. As the First Assistant United States Attorney to former U.S. Attorney Harvey, Carlton Shier has acted as the principal deputy and advisor of Kerry Harvey. In addition, he supported former U.S. Attorney Harvey in managing the operations of the branches of the Office – from the Lexington headquarters to its two other branches in Fort Mitchell and London.
Upon the appointment and confirmation of presidential appointee Robert M. Duncan Jr. on November 9, 2017, Acting U.S. Attorney Carlton Shier returned to his post as First Assistant United States Attorney. On April 27, 2018, several changes were made in the Office, including the appointment of Carlton S. Shier as the Acting Administrative Officer following the resignation of former Administrative Officer Rhonda Trent. He retired on April 27, 2018, ending her over 30 years of government agency service.
Experience as First Assistant and Acting U.S. Attorney
Throughout his service as the First Assistant to former U.S. Attorney Duncan, Carlton Shier has aided in implementing numerous efforts in reducing and combating violent crime, fraud, and public corruption. Furthermore, the Office has consistently sought justice for the victims. It has faithfully enforced the law, even through the nation’s several challenges, which included the longest federal government shutdown in history due to the global pandemic. Former U.S. Attorney Robert M. Duncan has expressed his appreciation for the assistance that Acting U.S. Attorney Shier has provided to him. He was transitioning to being the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky.
With quite an experience in being both a First Assistant and an Acting United States Attorney for the district, U.S. Attorney Shier is well acclaimed for his legal skills and good judgment. He is also respected for being a skilled administrator, in which he was admired for his willingness to take on additional responsibilities in the Office. On top of being the current Chief Federal Law Enforcement Official of the Office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Carlton S. Shier IV will continue to serve as the First Assistant U.S. Attorney of the Office. Moreover, he will continue to perform his executive duties, as well as directly supervise the Administrative Division, the Civil Division, the Community Relations functions, and the Litigation Support Unit of the Office.
Cases During Term as Acting U.S. Attorney
Once holding the position of Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Carlton Shier has handled a variety of cases, including the prosecution of a Bath County Man who was involved in the misbranding of drugs and obstruction of justice. The defendant was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison for numerous violations and was also ordered to pay about $15,000 in restitution. A three-year term of supervised release was also imposed. Another case is the prosecution of a Richmond man sentenced to serve 33 months in federal prison for the embezzlement of over one million dollars.
Office Jurisdiction
As the incumbent United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Carlton S. Shier IV shall be responsible for serving the district, which has a population of approximately 2.2 million. The Office has jurisdiction over the Cities of Ashland, Covington, Frankfort, Lexington, London, Pikeville, and Somerset, including 67 different counties. In addition, United States Attorney Carlton Shier oversees a staff of about 110 employees, including 49 Assistant U.S. Attorneys. The Office shall also be in charge of federal crimes involving financial fraud, firearms, public corruption, and narcotics, among others. Moreover, the Office shall manage civil cases involving the United States and recover debts owed to the United States.
Contact Details
Full Name: Carlton S. Shier, IV
District/State: Eastern District of Kentucky
Public email ID: N/A
Lexington Main Office
U.S. Attorney’s Office
260 W. Vine Street, Suite 300
Lexington, KY 40507-1612
(859) 233-2661
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(859) 233-2573
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Fort Michell Branch Office
U.S. Attorney’s Office
207 Grandview Drive, Suite 400
Ft. Mitchell, KY. 41017-2762
(859) 655-3200
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(859) 655-9080
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London Branch Office
U.S. Attorney’s Office
601 Meyers Baker Road, Suite 200
London, KY. 40741-3035
(606) 864-5523
Main
(606) 862-0258
TTY
Gabrielle Dudgeon
Public Affairs Specialist
(859)-685-4887
Main
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Updated: February 1, 2021