Richard L. Durbin, Jr. Recognized by Deputy Attorney General with Lifetime Achievement Award

WASHINGTON – Richard L. Durbin, Jr., Senior Litigation Counsel of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Texas, was recognized by Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen and Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA) Director James Crowell, IV at the 35th Director’s Awards Ceremony today in Washington D.C.

The Western District of Texas was one of 31 districts represented at the ceremony, which was held in the Great Hall at the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building.

Deputy Attorney General Rosen told the awardees, “Today’s honorees have earned the esteem of their colleagues.  But most importantly, you have earned the gratitude of your fellow citizens — whose communities you have made safer, whose lives you have improved, and whose trust you have rewarded.”

EOUSA Director Crowell said, “The Department of Justice is in truth a deployed force.  Your work isn’t easy, but it is vital to the functioning and enduring nature of our democracy.  As federal prosecutors, we are held to a higher standard, a standard that requires us to ensure that we uphold the rule of law and the fundamental rules of fairness in every trial, every settlement, every plea, and every legal argument in which we are involved.”

Mr. Durbin is recognized for his lifetime of incredible service to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.  Since Mr. Durbin first joined as an Assistant United States Attorney 35 years ago, he has served as the Chief of the Appellate Section, the Chief of the Criminal Division, First Assistant United States Attorney, and United States Attorney.  In his three decades as a supervisor, Mr. Durbin has overseen tremendous expansion of the office and has provided invaluable guidance and mentorship to generations of prosecutors.  Mr. Durbin is considered a critical resource for the Department in areas such as immigration enforcement, the OCDETF program, discovery obligations, and personnel management.  Indeed, Mr. Durbin is renowned throughout both the entire Department and Texas for his keen intelligence, broad experience, managerial expertise, wisdom, and kindness.

“Richard has dedicated his career to making all Texans safer.  This award recognizes the magnitude of his contributions to Texas and to the United States,” stated United States Attorney John F. Bash.

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