Nicholas W. Brown (lawyer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nick Brown
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| 19th Attorney General of Washington | |
| Assumed office January 15, 2025 |
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| Governor | Bob Ferguson |
| Preceded by | Bob Ferguson |
| United States Attorney for the Western District of Washington |
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| In office October 8, 2021 – June 21, 2023 |
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| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Tessa M. Gorman (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Tessa M. Gorman |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Nicholas William Brown
April 2, 1977 Steilacoom, Washington, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Morehouse College (BA) Harvard University (JD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
Nicholas William Brown (born April 2, 1977) is an American lawyer. He became the 19th Attorney General of Washington in 2025. Before this, he was the United States attorney for the Western District of Washington from October 2021 to June 2023. Nick Brown was elected Attorney General for Washington in November 2024. He is the first African American to hold this important job in Washington state.
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Early Life and Education
Nick Brown was born on April 2, 1977, in Steilacoom, Washington. He went to Morehouse College and earned his first degree in 1999. Later, he studied law at Harvard University, getting his law degree in 2002.
Nick Brown's Career Journey
Early Legal Work
Nick Brown started his legal career in the United States Army. He worked as a Judge Advocate General. In this role, he acted as both a prosecutor (someone who tries to prove a crime happened) and a defense lawyer (someone who defends people accused of crimes).
His work in the Army included being a trial lawyer at Joint Base Lewis–McChord. He also defended soldiers at Fort Bliss, Texas, and even in Baghdad, Iraq. From 2007 to 2013, he was an assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington. From 2013 to 2017, he was a top legal advisor to Governor Jay Inslee.
On Survivor
In 2000, before his main legal career, Nick Brown was a contestant on the TV show Survivor. He appeared on the second season, called Survivor: The Australian Outback. He was the 10th person voted off the show. He then became one of the jury members who helped decide the winner.
Becoming U.S. Attorney
In January 2021, two senators from Washington, Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, suggested Nick Brown for the job of U.S. Attorney for Western Washington.
On July 26, 2021, President Joe Biden officially nominated him for the role. The United States Senate confirmed his nomination on September 30, 2021. He was sworn into office on October 8, 2021, by Chief Judge Ricardo S. Martinez.
Running for Attorney General
In May 2023, there were reports that Nick Brown was interested in running for Attorney General of Washington. This is the state's chief legal officer. On June 20, 2023, he announced he would leave his job as U.S. Attorney the next day. He then joined a law firm called Pacifica Law Group LLP as a partner. He worked there while campaigning for the Attorney General position.
Nick Brown officially joined the race on July 12, 2023. In November 2024, he won the election. This made him the first African American to hold the office of Attorney General in Washington state. He started his term in January 2025.
Personal Life
Nick Brown lives in Seattle with his wife and their two children.
