WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Senators Debbie  Stabenow and Gary Peters Friday applauded President Biden’s nominations of Dawn Ison to be U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Michigan and Mark Totten to be U.S. Attorney in the Western District of Michigan. If confirmed, Dawn Ison would be the first African American woman to serve as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan.

“I applaud today’s nominations by the White House. Dawn Ison is a highly-qualified Assistant U.S. Attorney serving in the Eastern District of Michigan. I know she will continue her excellent work as U.S. Attorney. Mark Totten is a highly respected attorney, both in his work serving our state and teaching our next generation of law professionals as a professor at Michigan State University. I am confident in these two nominees, and look forward to moving their nominations through the Senate confirmation process,” said Senator Stabenow. 

“As a U.S. Senator, it’s an honor to uphold the longstanding tradition of nominating highly qualified home state candidates to serve as U.S. Attorneys,” said Senator Peters. “Dawn Ison and Mark Totten are exceptional attorneys who represent the best of Michigan and I’m pleased the Biden Administration announced their nominations today. I’m confident these dedicated public servants will represent our state and country honorably as they make decisions that directly impact the lives of Michiganders.” 

Dawn N. Ison is an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, where she has served since 2002. From 2010 to 2014, Ms. Ison served as the Chief of the Drug Enforcement Task Force Unit of the office. From 1990 to 2002, she was an attorney in private practice where she focused on criminal matters as well as a range of civil matters. Ms. Ison served as a Prehearing Attorney for the Michigan Court of Appeals from 1989 to 1990. Ms. Ison received her J.D. from Wayne State University Law School in 1989 and her B.A., magna cum laude, from Spelman College in 1986. 

Mark A. Totten has served as Chief Legal Counsel for Governor Gretchen Whitmer since 2019. From 2008 to 2018, Totten was a professor at Michigan State University College of Law. Mr. Totten served as a Special Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in the Office of the Genesee County Prosecuting Attorney from 2016 to 2017. He served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan from 2011 to 2013. From 2006 to 2007, Mr. Totten was an attorney on the appellate staff in the Civil Division of the United States Department of Justice. Mr. Totten served as a law clerk for Judge Thomas Griffith of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia from 2007 to 2008. Mr. Totten received his J.D. from Yale Law School and a Ph.D. in Ethics from Yale University in 2006 and his B.A. from Cedarville College in 1996. 

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