Kenneth Polite

Kenneth Allen Polite Jr. (born 1976) is an American lawyer who previously served as the assistant attorney general for the criminal division in the United States Department of Justice from 2021 to 2023.[1] He also served as a United States attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana from 2013 to 2017.[2][3]

Kenneth Polite
United States Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division
In office
July 21, 2021 – July 28, 2023
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byBrian Benczkowski
Succeeded byTBD
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana
In office
September 20, 2013 – March 10, 2017
PresidentBarack Obama
Donald Trump
Preceded byJim Letten
Succeeded byPeter G. Strasser
Personal details
Born
Kenneth Allen Polite Jr.

1976 (age 46–47)
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
SpouseFlorencia Greer
Children2
EducationHarvard University (AB)
Georgetown University (JD)

Early life and education

Polite was born in 1976 in New Orleans, Louisiana[4] to teenage parents. His mother, Rosalind, was still in high school when he was born and his father Kenneth Polite Sr., eventually became a police officer.[5] Along with brothers, Damion and Tyrrel, Polite was raised by his single mother in the Lower Ninth Ward.[6] In 1993, he graduated as valedictorian from De La Salle High School in New Orleans.[5] He received an Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard University in 1997 and a Juris Doctor from the Georgetown University Law Center in 2000.[7]

Career

In 2001, Polite served as a law clerk to Judge Thomas L. Ambro of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. From 2002 to 2006, he served as an associate at the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in New York City. He served as an assistant United States attorney in the Southern District of New York, from 2007 to 2010. From 2010 to 2013, he was a shareholder at the law firm of Liskow & Lewis in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he headed the firm's White Collar Crime Defense Group and served as the hiring partner.[8][9] From 2018 to 2021, he was a partner at the law firm of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius.[10]

United States Attorney
Polite as United States Attorney (2013–2017)

On June 27, 2013, President Barack Obama nominated Polite to be the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana. His nomination was reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 12, 2013, by voice vote.[8] On September 17, 2013, his nomination was confirmed in the Senate by voice vote.[11][12] He received his commission on September 20, 2013, and took the oath of office the same day. In 2014, Polite created the Crescent City Keepers Mentoring Program, aimed at using faith communities to mentor at-risk youth. He also created an anti corruption unit to address claims of civil rights violations and public corruption.[13][14][15] That same year, Polite introduced the 30-2-2 reentry program for former inmates. The program joined with 30 local businesses who agreed to hire two formerly incarcerated individuals for two years.[16][17]

In 2015, Polite was named to the Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys, a national advisory board for the U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch.[18] The advisory board provides advice and counsel to the Attorney General and other Justice Department officials on issues related to policy and operations.[19]

Under Polite, the U.S. attorney's office has brought several high-profile cases against individuals such as Robert Durst, Ray Nagin, Big Freedia and Darren Sharper.[20][21][22]

Assistant attorney general

On April 12, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Polite to be an assistant attorney general for the criminal division within the United States Department of Justice.[23] On May 26, 2021, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.[24] On June 17, 2021, the committee favorably reported his nomination to the Senate floor. On July 20, 2021, the Senate confirmed Polite by a vote of 56–44.[25][26] He was sworn in on July 21, 2021. In July 2023, US attorney general Merrick Garland said in a statement that Polite will step down at the end of July after 2 years of Assistant Attorney General. [1]

Personal life

Polite is married to Florencia Greer Polite, Chief, Division of General Obstetrics & Gynecology, at the University of Pennsylvania. The couple met while attending Harvard. The couple and their two daughters live in Philadelphia and are Catholic.[27][28]

He has served on the Louisiana Civil Service Commission and the board of New Orleans College Prep Charter School in Central City.[27] Polite cites the murder of his half-brother in New Orleans in 2004 as a factor in becoming a prosecutor.[29]

Polite is a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.[30] In 2015, Polite received an honorary doctorate from Loyola University.[31]

See also

References
  1. "Kevin A. Polite (sic) Confirmed As DOJ Assistant Attorney General". Ebony. July 24, 2021. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  2. Chandler, Natalie (March 7, 2016). "Honorees Chosen for 12th 'Leadership in Law' Class". New Orleans CityBusiness. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  3. Kunzelman, Michael (December 5, 2013). "Holder Lauds New U.S. Attorney in New Orleans Visit". The Advocate. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  4. United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary: Questionnaire for Non-Judicial Nominees: Kenneth Allen Polite, Jr
  5. Beck, Jessica. "Kenneth Polite Brings New Energy to the US District Attorney's Office in Eastern Louisiana". NolaWoman. Archived from the original on March 5, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  6. Parker, Nancy (2014). "U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite and His Mother Remember Humble Beginnings". WVUE New Orleans. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  7. Lewis, Edmund (March 11, 2013). "Supporters Say Polite is a Great Choice for U.S. Attorney Post". The Louisiana Weekly. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  8. "President Obama Nominates Kenneth Allen Polite, Jr., to serve as U.S. Attorney". whitehouse.gov. June 27, 2013. Retrieved October 16, 2016 – via National Archives.
  9. "Five to Receive Monte M. Leman Awards". The Advocate. October 20, 2014. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  10. "Morgan Lewis Partner Kenneth Polite Confirmed as DOJ Assistant Attorney General". www.morganlewis.com. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  11. "United States Senate Periodical Press Gallery". Archived from the original on December 9, 2020. Cal. #335, Kenneth Polite to be US Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Confirmed by unanimous consent.
  12. "Proceedings and Debates of the 113th Congress, First Session" (PDF). Congressional Record. United States Government Publishing Office. September 17, 2013. p. S6544. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  13. Finney, Peter (January 22, 2014). "U.S. Attorney Has De La Salle Roots". Clarion Herald. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  14. Finney, Peter (September 19, 2014). "Reaching Out in Faith For Peace". Clarion Herald. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  15. Grimm, Andy (October 23, 2014). "U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite, One of Obama's Youngest Appointees, Focuses on Youth in First Year". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  16. Bordelon, Christine (October 16, 2014). "Changes Being Made in Justice System, Sentencing". Clarion Herald. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  17. Eisen, Lauren-Brooke (November 30, 2014). "Prosecutors Can Play Role in Ending Mass Incarceration". The Huffington Post. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  18. Sledge, Matt (April 30, 2015). "U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite Named to Panel That Will Advise AG Loretta Lynch". The New Orleans Advocate. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  19. Grimm, Andy (April 30, 2015). "U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite Appointed to DOJ Advisory Committee". The Times Picayune. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  20. "Robert Durst Sentenced to Over Seven Years in Prison" (Press release). United States Department of Justice. April 27, 2016. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  21. Linderman, Juliet (February 12, 2014). "U.S. Attorney, Local Watchdogs Hail Ray Nagin Guilty Verdict". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  22. Red, Christian (August 18, 2016). "Ex-NFL Star Darren Sharper Gets 18 Years in Federal Prison For Drugging, Raping More Than Half Dozen Women". Daily News. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  23. "President Biden Announces His Intent to Nominate 11 Key Administration Leaders on National Security and Law Enforcement". The White House. April 12, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  24. United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary: Nominations for May 26, 2021
  25. "PN423 - Nomination of Kenneth Allen Polite Jr. for Department of Justice, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". www.congress.gov. July 19, 2021. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  26. "On the Nomination (Confirmation: Kenneth Allen Polite, Jr., of Louisiana, to be an Assistant Attorney General)". US Senate. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  27. "U.S. Attorney candidate Ken Polite Brings Youth, Experience, Backers Say". The Times-Picayune. February 8, 2013. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  28. "Florencia Polite, M.D." LSU Health. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  29. DeBerry, Jarvis (March 28, 2014). "Kenneth Polite's Brother's Murder Stays on His Mind". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  30. Jackson, Donnell (August 11, 2015). "New Orleans Schools Receive More than $60K in computer Technology From Kappa Alpha Psi". WDSU New Orleans. Archived from the original on August 12, 2015. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  31. "Loyola announces Bob Woodward as 2015 commencement speaker". Loyola University (Press release). March 20, 2015. Retrieved April 14, 2021. Kenneth Allen Polite Jr., U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana, will receive an honorary degree at the College of Law ceremony.
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