Nick Brown

Nicholas William Brown was born on April 2, 1977, and is Washington State's 19th Attorney General, serving since January 2025. He made history as Washington's first African American Attorney General. Brown was raised in Steilacoom and Pierce County by his father, an Army veteran active in the Civil Rights Movement, and his mother, a nurse and healthcare administrator. He has two children, Brooklyn and Whitaker.

Education

Brown graduated from Morehouse College and earned his law degree from Harvard Law School. He joined ROTC to help pay for college.

Political Experience

Military and Public Service
Brown served as a Judge Advocate General officer in the U.S. Army, protecting soldiers from fraud and defending them in court.

U.S. Attorney's Office
He began as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington in 2007, handling over 100 cases ranging from firearm and drug trafficking to child sexual abuse and financial fraud. In October 2021, President Joe Biden nominated and appointed him as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington, making him the first African American to hold this position in Washington State. He served until June 2023, focusing on fighting drug cartels and sex trafficking, addressing the fentanyl crisis, and reducing violent crime. He chaired the Attorney General's Advisory Subcommittee on Civil Rights and prioritized preventing and prosecuting hate crimes.

Governor's Office
From 2013 to 2017, Brown served as General Counsel to Governor Jay Inslee, overseeing high-priority litigation, criminal justice policy, and tribal gaming matters. He worked on standing up to the Trump administration's Muslim ban and advancing criminal justice reform, including efforts to end the death penalty in Washington.

Private Practice
Brown worked as a partner at Pacifica Law Group, focusing on complex civil litigation and constitutional issues for public, private, and nonprofit clients.

As Attorney General
Since taking office, Brown has led coalitions challenging energy policies, protected pregnant and nursing employees in public education, and established reporting tools for sexual assault survivors.