Eileen Decker
USC Gould School of Law

Until earlier this year, Eileen M. Decker served as a United States Attorney, and as such was the chief federal law enforcement officer in the Central District of California, a sprawling district based in Los Angeles that encompasses seven counties. Decker oversaw the largest United States Attorney’s Office outside of the District of Columbia, an office that employs approximately 280 attorneys who serve almost 20 million residents. The United States Attorney’s Office prosecutes the entire range of federal criminal offenses, defends the United States in civil actions, and represents government interests in tax matters.

After being unanimously confirmed as United States Attorney by the United States Senate on June 11, 2015, Decker was given a four-year appointment by President Barack Obama. As part of her duties, Decker served on five Attorney General Advisory Committees – Civil Rights, Cyber/Intellectual Property, Terrorism/National Security, Violent and Organized Crime, and White Collar/Fraud. Along with many of her colleagues who were appointed by President Obama, Decker resigned on March 10, 2017.

Decker was recently named a Specialist with the Department of State, Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs, a program that allows her to travel overseas to lecture and consult on issues of importance to foreign institutions and governments.

Prior to becoming the United States Attorney, Decker was the Deputy Mayor for Homeland Security and Public Safety for the City of Los Angeles for nearly six years. As Deputy Mayor, Ms. Decker was responsible for matters related to the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles Fire Department, and the Emergency Management Department. In addition, she was the principle liaison for the City of Los Angeles to all federal law enforcement agencies.

Decker was an Assistant United States Attorney for almost 15 years, during which time she investigated and prosecuted a wide variety of cases. During her tenure as an Assistant United States Attorney, she was the first Chief of the National Security Section. She also served as Deputy Chief of the Organized Crime and Terrorism Section and as Deputy Chief of Organized Crime Strike Force.

Prior to becoming an Assistant United States Attorney, Decker was in private practice for three years at the law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher in Los Angeles. She also served as a law clerk to United States District Judge Gary L. Taylor in the Central District of California.

Decker received her undergraduate and law degrees from New York University. She also received a Master’s Degree in Homeland Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School and, in 2007, was a Wasserstein Fellow at Harvard Law School. In addition, she is a Past President of the Women Lawyer’s Association of Los Angeles.

  

FACULTY IN THE NEWS

Annenberg Media
September 19, 2023
Re: Thomas Lenz

Thomas Lenz was quoted by Annenberg Media about the United Automobile Workers union ready to go on strike. "Strikes affect the livelihoods of those who choose to stop working. To the extent those persons aren’t earning money to spend that means stores, restaurants, and other businesses might not be as busy. If a strike lasts a long time bills might not get paid as easily, if at all," Lenz wrote.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIP

Mugambi Jouet
August, 2023

“Guns, Mass Incarceration, and Bipartisan Reform: Beyond Vicious Circle and Social Polarization,” 55 Arizona State Law Journal 239 (2023).

Edward McCaffery
August, 2023

"The Curiouser and Curiouser Case of Carried Interest" (with Darryll K. Jones), Arizona Law Review (Spring 2024).

Scott Altman
August, 2023

"Are Parents Fiduciaries," 42 Law and Philosophy 431 (2023).