U.S. Attorney Anna Mills Wagoner
Anna Mills Wagoner was sworn in as United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina on November 16, 2001, following confirmation by the United States Senate. Prior to her appointment as United States Attorney, Mrs. Wagoner served as a District Court Judge in North Carolina (District 19-C ) where she was first elected in 1990. She served as Chief District Court Judge from 1994 until her appointment as United States Attorney. Prior to her election to the Bench, Mrs. Wagoner was a partner in the Salisbury NC law firm of Woodson, Linn, Sayers Lawther, Short and Wagoner.
As United States Attorney, Mrs. Wagoner supervises a staff of 23 lawyers who serve as Assistant United States Attorneys and a support staff of 30 persons. The United States Attorney is the legal representative of the United States Government for both criminal prosecutions and civil lawsuits, and serves as an official spokesperson for the United States Department of Justice with relation to activities occurring in the Middle District of North Carolina.
Mrs. Wagoner has been actively involved in State and local activities throughout her legal career and has served in leadership positions as President of the Conference of Chief District Court Judges for the State of North Carolina, Vice-President of the North Carolina Bar Association, President of the Rowan County Bar Association, Chair of the Court’s Committee on Courthouse Security and Facilities for the State of North Carolina, Chairman of the North Carolina Council on the Status of Women, Chairman of the Governor’s Task Force on Domestic Violence, and member of the North Carolina Drug Treatment Courts Advisory Committee. In addition, Mrs. Wagoner has been an instructor at the UNC Institute of Government School for New Judges.
During her tenure as Chief Judge, her work focused on the criminal justice system and issues relating to youth. She was the team leader for the District 19-C Juvenile Drug Treatment Court planning team, and served as a member of the Criminal Justice Partnership program, Judicial Conference Committee on Salaries and Benefits for the state of North Carolina, the Governor’s Commission on Juvenile Crime and Justice Advisory Committee, the Courts Technology committee, Communities in Schools Board of Directors, Governor’s Advisory Committee on Family Services, and the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council.
As United States Attorney, Mrs. Wagoner is a member of the following subcommittees of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee: Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, Violent Crime, the Office of Management and Budget, Anti-terrorism, and Law Enforcement Coordination and Victims’ Rights.
Mrs. Wagoner is a cum laude graduate of Wake Forest University School of Law and holds a BA Degree from Agnes Scott College. She is licensed to practice in North Carolina and the District of Columbia.