Loretta Lynch was confirmed as the Attorney General on Thursday.
On Thursday, Loretta Lynch was voted in as the new United States Attorney General. Members of the Senate voted 53 to 43 in favor of the new Attorney General.
Lynch is expected to respond to the immediate issue of law enforcement policies and excessive force exerted by police officers. Recent events have called into question the use of lethal force by law enforcement. The new Attorney General hopes to repair the relationship between communities and law enforcement, which she believes is necessary to the wellbeing of the community.
The previous Attorney General, Eric H. Holder Jr., was quick in acting in favor of the victims of alleged police brutality. Though he was supported by liberals, Holder was criticized by conservatives and officers for his quick judgment against law enforcement. Lynch, on the other hand, is expected to encourage trust between the public and law enforcement by increasing police assurance and finding connection between minority communities and officers.
President Barrack Obama, as well as Senate Democrats, spoke highly of Lynch and her confirmation as Attorney General. “Loretta’s confirmation ensures that we are better positioned to keep our communities safe, keep our nation secure, and ensure that every American experiences justice under the law,” said the President.
Lynch’s father was a Baptist minister who also championed civil rights, and her mother was a school librarian. As a graduate of Harvard Law School, Lynch served as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. Her office is in charge of the case regarding Eric Garner, who was killed in a chokehold by an officer last year. She has further served the community of New York by fighting against sex trafficking and freeing laborers from the control of pimps. In 2012 Lynch and her office arrested three major sex traffickers from Mexico and united over a dozen children with their mothers as a result.
With her confirmation so long delayed, Lynch may have only up to 18 months as the Attorney General. With such a limited time frame, it is uncertain if she will be able to enact major policy changes. However, her aides state that Lynch's current goals are to implement internal changes to the Justice Department. She also hopes to improve relations between her department and Congress, in which 10 Republican Senators voted for her.
