FOR OUTSTANDING EFFORTS IN INDIAN COUNTRY

United States Attorney for the District of Montana Michael W. Cotter announced today that Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek of the U.S. Attorney's Office in the District of Montana was one of 163 members of the Department of Justice recognized by Attorney General Eric Holder and Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA) Director H. Marshall Jarrett at the 28th annual Director's Awards Ceremony today in Washington D.C.

The District of Montana was one of the districts represented at the ceremony which was held in the Great Hall at the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building.

In his prepared remarks, Attorney General Holder told the awardees that they, "represent the very best that this Department has to offer" and that their "work embodies our ongoing commitment - not merely to win cases, but to do justice; to protect our fellow citizens; to empower the most vulnerable among us; and to uphold the rule of law."

Each day the members of the U.S. Attorneys' community go to work for the citizens of this country with one goal in mind - to do everything they can to protect the rights of all Americans," said EOUSA Director Jarrett. "I am continually humbled by their resiliency, dedication, and unparalleled work ethic to accomplish this noble mission. Today's awardees exemplify what it truly means to be a patriot and it is an honor to recognize them for their extraordinary service."

AUSA Suek grew up in Butte, Montana. She obtained her undergraduate degree and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana. Upon graduation from law school, AUSA Suek clerked for retired U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Holter. Next AUSA Suek worked for a brief period in private practice before joining the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Montana in June of 1995. During her tenure with the U.S. Attorney's Office AUSA Suek has tried over 100 criminal cases - most involving violent crime in Indian Country. AUSA Suek served as Senior Litigation Counsel to the U.S. Attorney's Office from January 2006 to July 2010. In July of 2010, AUSA Suek was promoted to Deputy Criminal Chief. In her role as Deputy Criminal Chief AUSA Suek supervises the Indian Country Unit, comprised of five AUSAs, and carries a criminal caseload of her own.

Lori Harper Suek has distinguished herself as one the nation's foremost authorities on both the legal and practical aspects of criminal justice in Indian Country. As a trial attorney, AUSA Suek has prosecuted hundreds of cases, tried many, and always vigorously vindicated the interests of tribal communities and Indian victims. She has been an unqualified leader in the development of policies in Indian Country designed to maximize the effectiveness of limited resources, coalesce the interests of disparate agencies and community groups, and insure that justice in Indian Country is fairly dispensed, aggressively pursued, and consistently responsive," said U.S. Attorney Michael W. Cotter. "Through her efforts the lives of residents in Indian communities in Montana have been fundamentally improved by her expertise, diligence and commitment.

EOUSA provides oversight, general executive assistance, and direction to the 94 United States Attorneys' Offices around the country. For more information on EOUSA and its mission, visit http://www.usdoj.gov/usao.

 

 

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