President Joe Biden has nominated two alumnae of the University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College of Law to serve as U.S attorneys—marking the first time ever that two Utah Law graduates have simultaneously been named to the position. Trina Higgins ’95 has been nominated to serve for the District of Utah, and S. Lane Tucker ’87 has been nominated to serve for the District of Alaska.
If confirmed to their positions by the U.S. Senate, Higgins and Tucker will serve among 94 U.S. attorneys across the country who are “indispensable to upholding the rule of law as the top federal law enforcement officials for their districts,” according to an announcement from the White House.
Higgins would be the first woman to serve as U.S. attorney for the District of Utah if she is confirmed. She would succeed Acting U.S. Attorney Andrea T. Martinez ’01, who is also a Utah Law alumna—and who herself succeeded alumnus John W. Huber ’95 in the position.
“We’re tremendously proud of our alumnae Trina Higgins and S. Lane Tucker, and congratulate them on their nomination to such a significant role in our nation’s legal system,” said Elizabeth Kronk Warner, dean of the S.J. Quinney College of Law. “The president’s recognition of two Utah Law alumnae at once speaks to their prodigious talent and dedication, and to the far-reaching impact of Utah Law’s alumni community. We also celebrate the fact that these nominees are both women, which underscores the leadership of our female graduates across the profession and comes as Utah Law marks its first year with a majority female student body.”
Higgins has served as an assistant United States attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah since 2002. Higgins has held various positions in the office, including special counsel to litigative programs from 2017 to 2021, senior litigation counsel from 2015 to 2017, violent crime section chief from 2008 to 2015, and tribal liaison from 2005 to 2015. From 1995 to 2002, she served as deputy district attorney in the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office. Higgins received her J.D. from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law in 1995 and her B.A. from Weber State University in 1992.
Tucker has been a partner in the Anchorage office of Stoel Rives LLP since 2010. From 2008 to 2009, Tucker was of counsel at Perkins Coie LLP, and from 2006 to 2008, she was a sole practitioner. Tucker previously served in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska from 2002 to 2006, first as an assistant United States attorney from 2002 to 2003 and then as the civil chief from 2003 to 2006. From 1991 to 2002, Tucker served as a trial attorney in the Civil Division of the United States Department of Justice. From 1987 to 1991, Tucker served as an assistant general counsel for the General Services Administration. Tucker received her J.D. from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law in 1987 and her B.A. from Mary Baldwin College in 1983.