Channing D. Phillips facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Channing D. Phillips
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| United States Attorney for the District of Columbia | |
| Acting March 3, 2021 – November 5, 2021 |
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| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Michael R. Sherwin |
| Succeeded by | Matthew M. Graves |
| In office October 19, 2015 – September 24, 2017 |
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| President | Barack Obama Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Vincent H. Cohen Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Jessie Liu |
| Acting May 28, 2009 – February 2010 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Jeffrey A. Taylor (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Ronald Machen |
| Acting United States Attorney General | |
| In office January 30, 2017 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Deputy | Vacant |
| Preceded by | Sally Yates (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Dana Boente (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Channing Durward Phillips
March 9, 1958 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Education | University of Virginia (BA) Howard University (JD) |
Channing Durward Phillips (born March 9, 1958) is an American lawyer who has held important roles in the government. He served as the acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia from March to November 2021. A U.S. Attorney is like the chief lawyer for the federal government in a specific area. They represent the United States in court.
Mr. Phillips also held this position before, from October 2015 to September 2017, and as an acting U.S. Attorney from May 2009 to February 2010. For a short time in January 2017, he also served as the acting United States Attorney General. This happened because of a special rule about who takes over important jobs in the Justice Department. Soon after, President Donald Trump appointed Dana Boente to that role.
Contents
His Early Life and Education
Channing D. Phillips grew up in Washington, D.C.. He went to the University of Virginia, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1980. Later, he studied law at Howard University School of Law, getting his law degree in 1986.
A Career in Law and Public Service
Starting His Legal Journey
In 1990, Mr. Phillips began working as a lawyer for the United States Department of Justice. He was part of a team that worked on serious crimes. In 1994, he started working at the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington, D.C. He returned to the Justice Department in 2010 to work in the Attorney General's office.
Serving as U.S. Attorney
In 2015, when Ronald Machen left his role as U.S. Attorney, Channing Phillips was suggested for the job. President Obama officially nominated him on October 8, 2015. He became the acting U.S. Attorney on October 19, 2015. In December 2015, he announced the end of a review related to former Mayor Vincent C. Gray.
Important Moments in His Career
In 2017, when some other U.S. attorneys left their jobs, Mr. Phillips continued in his role. This was because his appointment was still temporary. On June 12, 2017, Donald Trump nominated Jessie Liu to be the U.S. Attorney. She took over the position after the United States Senate approved her in September 2017.
On March 3, 2021, President Joe Biden appointed Mr. Phillips to serve as acting U.S. Attorney again. He held this position until Matthew M. Graves was officially sworn in as his successor.
Family and Legacy
Channing D. Phillips is the son of Channing E. Phillips. His father was a minister and a civil rights activist. In 1968, his father made history as the first African-American person to be nominated for President of the United States by a major political party.
