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Civil Division

The Civil Division represents the United States of America in civil litigation involving the federal government.  It seeks to pursue justice and uphold the rule of law in every case. 

The Civil Division is staffed by approximately 25 civil Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSAs) and approximately 15 support personnel.  Civil AUSAs and staff routinely work closely with lawyers and staff from other components of the Department of Justice and from other federal agencies.  Civil AUSAs and staff also have opportunities to further their professional development and to engage in community outreach.

The Civil Division represents dozens of federal agencies each year, handling a wide variety of civil litigation.  Civil AUSAs regularly appear on behalf of federal agencies in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado and occasionally in other federal or state courts as well.  Areas of practice include, for example, cases involving administrative decisions by federal agencies, bankruptcy, employment, environmental decisions, federal information and records, federal officials sued in their individual capacities, federal prisoners, federal property, immigration, torts, and many other kinds of challenges to actions by many federal agencies or employees. 

The Civil Division also investigates violations of federal law and brings civil actions to enforce federal law.  Through this affirmative civil enforcement (ACE) work, Civil AUSAs seek to impose civil monetary penalties on those who have violated federal laws and to recover compensation from those who have defrauded the federal government or wrongfully harmed federal land or property.  This ACE work includes, for example, bringing civil actions against those who engage in fraud involving health care, government procurement, financial institutions, or federal oil and gas royalties.  This work also includes bringing civil actions against prescribers, pharmacies, and others when they violate laws relating to controlled substances.  Civil AUSAs also enforce federal civil rights laws in matters involving disabilities, education, employment, housing, law enforcement and policing, lending, public accommodations, and servicemembers’ rights.  The office’s civil rights work is described further at https://www.justice.gov/usao-co/civil-rights-enforcement.

The Chief of the Civil Division is Kevin Traskos, and the Deputy Chiefs of the Division are Amanda Rocque and Marcy Cook.

Updated June 14, 2023