JOHN S. LEONARDO SWORN IN AS UNITED STATES ATTORNEY FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Tucson, Ariz. – John S. Leonardo was sworn in today by U.S. District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson as the United States Attorney for the District of Arizona. On June 29, 2012, the U.S. Senate, with unanimous consent, confirmed Leonardo to the position. President Barack Obama nominated Leonardo for the post in March of this year. Leonardo succeeds Ann Birmingham Scheel, who has served as Acting U.S. Attorney since August 2011.

                 Leonardo, who served as a judge for Pima County Superior Court from 1993 to 2012, will lead one of the largest U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the country. The office currently employs approximately 300 personnel in four locations (Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff, and Yuma), and serves more than eight million residents throughout the entire state of Arizona, including the residents of all 22 Indian nations.

            “I am very happy to conclude the very long appointment process and I look forward to serving the people of Arizona in this new capacity,” said United States Attorney, John S. Leonardo. “I thank the President for his nomination, Senators Kyl and McCain for their support, as well as Representatives Grijalva and Pastor for their guidance and assistance. I feel fortunate to have the opportunity of joining the dedicated and very capable staff in the United States Attorney’s Office as it continues to strive to accomplish its important mission.”

            In addition to presiding over more than 380 jury trials, four of which were capital murder trials, Judge Leonardo took on extra duties as Presiding Judge of the Pima County Superior Court from 2002 to 2007. Judge Leonardo served as a member of the Arizona Supreme Court Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee from 2010 to 2012. In 2011, he was honored with the Judicial Integrity Award from the Arizona Trial Lawyers Association.

            Prior to his judicial service, Leonardo served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona from 1982 to 1993 and for the Northern District of Indiana from 1973 to 1982, where he also served as the First Assistant U.S. Attorney from 1978 to 1982. From 1972 to 1973, Leonardo was an Assistant State’s Attorney for Prince George’s County, Md. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1969 and from George Washington University School of Law in 1972.
RELEASE NUMBER:           2012-167(New_USA_Leonardo)

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az