Jessica D. Aber

Officially sworn in as the 63^rd United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Jessica D. Aber shall begin serving as the Chief Federal Law Enforcement Official for the Eastern District of Virginia on October 7, 2021. United States Attorney Jessica Aber was nominated by President Joe Biden on August 10 and was unanimously confirmed by the Senate on October 5, 2021. U.S. Attorney Aber was sworn into the highest position in the Office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia by Chief United States District Judge Mark S. Davis and the United States District Judge M. Hannah Lauck at the federal courthouse in Norfolk. President Joe Biden signed the commission of U.S. Attorney Aber on October 7, 2021.

Table of Contents

Predecessor of U.S. Attorney Aber
Educational Background
Legal Career – Clerkship and Private Practice
Legal Career – U.S. Attorney’s Office – EDVA
Statement by U.S. Attorney Aber
Office Jurisdiction
Contact Details
Alexandria Branch Office
Newport News Branch Office
Norfolk Branch Office
Richmond Branch Office
Media
NICS/Firearms Records Check Requests
Justice for All Act
Social Media Profiles of Jessica Aber

Predecessor of U.S. Attorney Aber

Nine months following the stepping down of former U.S. Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger, a permanent Top Federal Prosecutor for the Eastern District of Virginia has been named. The United States Attorney Jessica Aber took over in the highest position in the Office of the U.S. Attorney, replacing the interim Top Federal Prosecutor Raj Parekh, who has served as the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia for the past nine months.

Educational Background

A Magna Cum Laude graduate of the University of Richmond, United States Attorney Jessica Aber earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Criminal Justice in 2003. She subsequently attended law school at the William & Mary Law School, where she received her Juris Doctorate in 2006.

Legal Career – Clerkship and Private Practice

After she graduated from law school, U.S. Attorney Aber joined the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia as a Law Clerk for then-Magistrate Judge M. Hannah Lauck. She served in this capacity for approximately a year, from 2006 to 2007, prior to shifting to private practice. United States Attorney Aber worked as an Associate at the McGuireWoods LLP from 2007 to 2008.

Legal Career – U.S. Attorney’s Office – EDVA

First becoming a part of the Office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia in January 2009, Top Federal Prosecutor Jessica Aber was initially appointed as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. In this position, U.S. Attorney Aber handled an array of criminal cases, including the investigation and prosecution of child exploitation, financial fraud, public corruption, and violent crimes. On top of serving as a prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, Chief Federal Law Enforcement Official Jessica Aber was also previously appointed as the representative of the Eastern District of Virginia to the Drug Court of the Richmond Division throughout her entire tenure in the Office. From August 2015 to August 2016, U.S. Attorney Aber worked on a detailed assignment as Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice. Beginning in December 2016, United States Attorney Aber performed duties as the Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division of the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Statement by U.S. Attorney Aber

United States Attorney Jessica Aber expressed her gratitude towards President Joe Biden for his nomination and Senators Warner and Kaine for their recommendation and endorsement. Upon taking a seat in the Office, U.S. Attorney Aber claimed it was an honor for her to be able to lead the Office she had served a decade in. Moreover, U.S. Attorney Aber eagerly stated that she is looking forward to performing duties as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, with a dedication to preserving public safety within the district and commitment to supporting the mission of the Department of Justice.

Office Jurisdiction

As the Chief Federal Law Enforcement Official for the Eastern District of Virginia, U.S Attorney Jessica D. Aber supervises the investigation and prosecution of all federal crimes and the litigation of all civil matters within the jurisdiction of the Office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, where the United States is a party. Top Federal Prosecutor leads a staff of approximately 300 Assistant U.S. Attorneys and support personnel towards the realization of fair and equal justice for all. Furthermore, the Office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia is responsible for serving and protecting over six million citizens of the District, which covers cities and counties from Loudon County in the North, down to the North Carolina state line, and to the Mecklenburg County in the West, over to the Atlantic coast. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia has four staffed branch offices located in the cities of Alexandria, Newport News, Norfolk, and Richmond.