In a unanimous voice vote on Monday, June 13, 2022, Jacqueline C. Romero was confirmed as the new U.S. Attorney overseeing the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Romero was nominated by President Joe Biden for the post back on April 22, becoming the first woman ever nominated to hold the post. With the confirmation, she is the first woman of color to ever serve as Philly’s U.S. Attorney.

The New Jersey native is the daughter of Spanish immigrants, and grew up working at her parents’ diner. It is there, reading the newspapers delivered to the diner that she developed her political acumen.

For college, Romero attended the College of New Jersey, majoring in political science before attending Rutgers Law School. Her first job outside of law school was at the firm Lowenstein Sandler.

Over 16 years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney at the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Romero work has spanned affirmative and defense civil litigation, criminal prosecutions and appeals. She also grew to become the civil rights coordinator at the office, handling cases that dealt with everything from illegal opioid prescriptions and healthcare fraud, to the Americans With Disabilities Act, voting rights, and housing rights, to name a few.

Now, she will oversee the 140-person office that deals with civil rights cases and everything else in Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Lehigh, Northampton, Berks and Lancaster counties.

Beyond her government work, Romero has also served as an adjunct professor at Temple University’s Beasley School of Law, was once president of the Pennsylvania Hispanic Bar Association, is a longtime member of the LGBTQ Bar Association, and the Philadelphia Bar Association.

Before the confirmation was official, a number of Philadelphia law figures, community organizations and the Hispanic National Bar Association sent a joint letter to President Joe Biden and PA Senators Bob Casey and Pat Toomey backing Romero’s credentials for the post.

“Ms. Romero is a leader with experience, integrity, character and acute legal acumen as well as a diverse candidate. These qualities make her well-suited to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania,” the letter ended.

In response to the confirmation, Casey and Toomey released statements applauding the work of her fellow nominee Jerry Karam, up for U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

“I know that they will bring the leadership and independence necessary to serve Pennsylvania well in these critical roles,” said Casey.

“Jerry Karam and Jacqueline Romero both have substantial skills and experiences that will suit them well when they serve as U.S. Attorneys for the Middle District and Eastern District respectively. I am confident both Karam and Romero will continue to be excellent stewards of the rule of law in Pennsylvania,” said Toomey.