Letten tapped for national committee

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has made three new appointments to a special committee that practically reports directly to him and one of the Crescent City’s sharpest legal minds is on the list. Jim Letten of New Orleans will join another dozen U.S. attorneys from around the country to serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee. A seat on the AGAC is more than just a resume and ego booster; it’s a direct line to one of the most powerful men in the country. It was created in 1973 to give U.S. attorneys a voice on the national level. The AGAC reports to the attorney general through the deputy attorney general and offers advice on everything from policy to management. A Tulane Law School grad, Letten has served as Louisiana’s Eastern District U.S. attorney since 2001 and cut his political teeth under former Orleans Parish DA Harry Connick. In a press release, Holder said he welcomed all of the new members. “I will rely heavily on them as we work to further the department’s efforts to reduce violent crime and gang violence, promote civil rights, ensure fairness in the marketplace and above all, preserve our national security,” he says. – Jeremy Alford