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Meet the Former U.S. Attorney

Ryan K. Patrick

Former United States Attorney
Southern District Of Texas

Chief U.S. District Judge Rosenthal adminsters the oast of office to new U.S. Attorney Patrick

Ryan Patrick is the 23rd presidentially-appointed United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas and, as such, is the chief law enforcement officer responsible for prosecuting and defending the interests of the United States in one of the largest districts in the nation.

Patrick began serving as U.S. Attorney on Jan. 8, 2018, following his presidential nomination in November 2017 and subsequent unanimous Senate confirmation.

In 2018, Patrick significantly starting increasing staffing in what is now the busiest criminal docket in the country. More than 200 attorneys and 500 total staff cover seven offices across the district which represents nearly nine million Texans. To date, more than 80 attorneys and 80 support staff have been hired to meet increasing caseloads in South Texas and Houston. Particular emphasis in Houston has been placed on prosecuting violent crime. Last year, the office increased violent crime prosecutions by 40% through a renewed emphasis in Project Safe Neighborhoods – a project aimed at removing violent gang members from neighborhood, especially those who use a firearm, and Project Guardian which aims to better enforce federal firearms laws. Project Guardian is important in the fight against southbound smuggling of guns into Mexico. The district also saw the first increase in drug prosecutions in five years thanks to a renewed emphasis on local impact drug cases in addition to the traditional transnational prosecutions.

In Corpus Christi, resources have been improved to fight local violent crime as well as the largest human trafficking docket in the country. Along the border, dozens of additional prosecutors have been hired to prosecute the rising number of illegal entrants and reentrants in Laredo, McAllen and Brownsville along with a cadre of civil prosecutors for border fence construction projects along the Rio Grande.

Patrick has also placed an emphasis on outreach to local law enforcement making sure that every chief, sheriff and constable has his phone number and that federal law enforcement is willing to assist any agency with any problem. Covering 43 counties, the Southern District has more than 300 local police departments.

Patrick began his a career as an Assistant District Attorney in Harris County. During that time, he prosecuted all types of criminal cases. Patrick spent three years as an on call prosecutor and investigator with the Vehicle Crimes Division focusing on drunk driving fatalities. When he left the office, he was assigned to the Major Offenders Division. In 2012, then Texas Governor Rick Perry appointed Patrick Presiding Judge of the 177th state district court. He was elected to a full four-year-term later in 2012.

Prior to this position, Patrick was in private practice as a solo practitioner and senior counsel with HooverSlovacek, where he focused on felony criminal defense work. 

Patrick graduated from Baylor University in 2001 and South Texas College of Law in 2006. He is married with four children.

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Updated March 1, 2021