Eric Holder built an early legal career as a prosecutor in the Justice Department's Public Integrity Section before serving as a judge and then US Attorney for the District of Columbia, developing a reputation across both prosecutorial and judicial roles.
In 2009, Holder was appointed Attorney General of the United States by President Barack Obama, becoming the first Black American to hold the nation's highest law enforcement office. He served in the role for six years, one of the longest tenures of any Attorney General in decades.
As Attorney General, Holder pursued significant criminal justice reform initiatives, including efforts to reduce racial disparities in federal sentencing, expanded protections for voting rights, and oversaw the Justice Department's investigations into civil rights violations in police departments including Ferguson, Missouri.
After leaving office in 2015, Holder continued public engagement on voting rights and redistricting reform, founding the National Democratic Redistricting Committee to combat partisan and racial gerrymandering, extending his justice-focused public career well beyond his government tenure.
- First Black American to serve as US Attorney General (2009–2015)
- One of the longest-serving Attorneys General in recent decades
- Led major criminal justice reform initiatives reducing racial sentencing disparities
- Oversaw federal civil rights investigations into police departments including Ferguson, Missouri
- Founded the National Democratic Redistricting Committee to combat gerrymandering
- Institutional firsts carry lasting responsibility. His historic appointment came with the weight of shaping federal justice policy for six years.
- Reform requires sustained institutional leadership. His sentencing reform initiatives required years of Justice Department follow-through.
- Public service can continue after government office. His redistricting advocacy work began only after he left the Attorney General role.
- Accountability applies to institutions themselves. His Justice Department investigations examined police departments' own conduct.