Kevin G. Ritz
United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee
Assumed office
September 28, 2022
Appointed byJoe Biden
Preceded byJoe Murphy (acting)
Personal details
Born
Kevin Gafford Ritz[1]

(1974-10-15) October 15, 1974 (age 49)
Memphis, Tennessee[2]
EducationUniversity of Virginia (BA), JD)
Georgetown University (MS)

Kevin Gafford Ritz is an American lawyer who has served as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee since September 2022.

Education

A native of Memphis, Ritz graduated from White Station High School.[3] Ritz received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia in 1997, where he was a Jefferson Scholar. He later received a Master of Science from Georgetown University in 1999, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2004.[4]

Career

From 2004 to 2005, Ritz served as a law clerk for Judge Julia Smith Gibbons of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. In 2005, he became an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney's office for the Western District of Tennessee.[4] Ritz worked as a prosecutor in drug trafficking[5] and gun-related crimes before moving to appellate law later in his career. He appeared as counsel in United States v. Castleman.[6]

U.S. attorney

On July 29, 2022, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Ritz to be the United States attorney for the Western District of Tennessee.[6] On August 1, 2022, his nomination was sent to the United States Senate, and the nomination was confirmed on September 22, 2022, by voice vote.[7] Ritz was sworn in by Chief U.S. District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson on September 28, 2022.[8]

References

  1. ^ "Kevin Gafford Ritz Profile". www.martindale.com. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  2. ^ "Western District of Tennessee | Kevin Ritz Sworn in as United States Attorney | United States Department of Justice". www.justice.gov. September 28, 2022.
  3. ^ "Congressman Cohen Applauds Senate Confirmation of Kevin G. Ritz | Congressman Steve Cohen". cohen.house.gov. September 22, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: "President Biden Announces Three New Nominees to Serve as U.S. Attorneys, One to Serve as U.S. Marshal" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. July 29, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  5. ^ "U.S. Attorney Ritz discusses role, talks issues across West Tennessee". April 11, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Finton, Lucas (July 29, 2022). "President Joe Biden nominates former assistant U.S. attorney to top spot in Memphis". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  7. ^ "PN2442 - Nomination of Kevin G. Ritz for Department of Justice, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". United States Congress. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
  8. ^ "Kevin Ritz Sworn in as United States Attorney". United States Department of Justice. 2022-09-28. Retrieved 2022-09-28.


Legal offices Preceded byJoe MurphyActing United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee 2022-present Incumbent
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