By Staff
Former Cass County prosecutor Margaret M. Chiara announced that she is resigning her position as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan in Grand Rapids effective March 16.
Chiara, the first woman to serve as a U.S. Attorney in Michigan history, was nominated by President George W. Bush on Sept. 4, 2001.
She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Oct. 23, 2001.
Chiara, 63, gave no reason for leaving and said she intends to remain in public service.
During her tenure, the jurisdiction saw a 15-percent increase in felony prosecutions and convictions.
She developed an attorney training and mentoring program that now serves as a national model, her office said.
She also put more focus on Native American issues.
She succeeded Michael Dettmer, who resigned in January 2001 after nearly seven years in office to practice law in Traverse City.
Chiara was the Michigan Supreme Court's policy and planning director from 1999 until her appointment as a federal prosecutor.
Before that, she worked as administrator of the Trial Court Assessment Commission, developing various recommendations for reforming the state's trial court system.
Chiara was Cass County's prosecutor from 1987-96 and was an assistant prosecutor for the county from 1982-87, serving the last two years as chief assistant prosecutor.
She succeeded Susan Dobrich, who is now a Cass judge.
The New York City native received an undergraduate degree from Fordham University, a master's degree from Pace University and, in 1979, a law degree from Rutgers University.
Chiara was also the first woman to serve as president of the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan.
Chiara oversees some two dozen attorneys who prosecute the government's tax fraud, health-care crimes, bank thefts, drug conspiracies and weapons violations.
The civil division of her office represents government agencies in lawsuits, pursues delinquent student loans and intervenes in bankruptcies.
The Grand Rapids Press reported Friday that Chiara was asked to resign “as part of a controversial shake-up across the country.”
Chiara mentioned nothing about being asked to resign in a staff meeting Thursday.
The Justice Department recently fired seven other U.S. attorneys across the United States.
The Washington Post reported, “Sources familiar with the case confirmed that she was among a larger group of prosecutors who were first asked to resign Dec. 7.”
Bell said Chiara is one of the best U.S. attorneys he has observed during 20 years on the federal bench.
He said she did nothing that should have prompted her firing.