David H. Estes was sworn in Friday as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia after his appointment by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Estes took the oath of office Dec. 3 in the Augusta Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia before U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall.
“It is truly an honor to continue to serve the citizens of the Southern District of Georgia as we work with our outstanding staff and the exceptional law enforcement partners in the district to keep our communities safe,” Estes said. “We are dedicated to upholding the law and defending access to justice for those who live, work, worship and play throughout this district.”
As First Assistant U.S. Attorney, Estes was named Acting U.S. Attorney under the Vacancies Reform Act after the resignation Feb. 9, 2021, Bobby L. Christine. Estes now becomes U.S. Attorney by Attorney General appointment in the absence of a presidentially nominated and U.S. Senate-confirmed U.S. Attorney for a term of 120 days or until a U.S. Attorney is confirmed. If a U.S. Attorney is not nominated and confirmed within that period, a U.S. Attorney would be appointed by the Southern District U.S. Court.
The Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office encompasses 43 counties along the east side of the state, from Wilkes County in the north, along the Georgia coast, to the Florida border in the south, and as far west as Laurens County. The U.S. Attorney serves as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Southern District of Georgia.
