Augusta-based federal prosecutor Tara M. Lyons has been named First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District.
U.S. Attorney Jill Steinberg, who took office Feb. 22, announced the appointment April 6.
“Tara’s ability, drive, and passion to advance the DOJ mission makes her a clear choice for an executive role in this district. The office will benefit enormously from her exceptional insight, leadership acumen, and depth and breadth of experience,” Steinberg said in a statement.
A native of New York, Lyons has been serving as deputy criminal chief and and assistant U.S. attorney in the Augusta office of the Southern District of Georgia, which spans 43 Georgia counties. She has served as Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and Criminal Civil Rights Coordinator. Lyons was lead counsel in the district’s first federal hate crimes prosecution, U.S. v. McMichael et al., securing convictions in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery.
“I am deeply honored to be chosen to serve in a greater leadership role with the exceptional team in the Southern District U.S. Attorney’s Office,” Lyons said in a statement. “It is a humbling experience to fight for justice on behalf of victims in the courtroom, and I am excited to take on a role that allows higher-level advocacy on behalf of all victims served in our judicial circuit.”
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Lyons has been with the U.S. Department of Justice since 2003, serving as an assistant U.S. attorney in the South Carolina District prior to transferring to the Southern Georgia District. She attended South Carolina State University and the University of South Carolina School of Law, clerked under South Carolina Circuit Judge Henry F. Floyd then spent three years as a public defender in Richland County, S.C.
Lyons joins Augusta-based Criminal Division Chief Patricia M. Rhodes and Civil Division Chief Shannon H. Statkus as the senior leadership for the Southern District.
Appointed by President Biden, Steinberg replaced U.S. Attorney David Estes, who was appointed Acting U.S. Attorney in 2021 after former U.S. Attorney Bobby Christine resigned at the end of President Trump’s term. Christine is now District Attorney for the Columbia County Judicial Circuit.
Steinberg also announced Thursday that Karl Knoche will continue to serve as senior counsel to the U.S. Attorney. During his 34-year career with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Knoche has served as first assistant U.S. attorney as well as Criminal Division Chief.
