Press Release

Acting Deputy Attorney General Appointed

February 17, 2009

(Juneau, AK) - Susan S. McLean has been appointed Acting Deputy Attorney General for the Department of Law, Criminal Division.

McLean has worked for the Department of Law on and off for 15 years. McLean brings with her a vast knowledge of the division. Her experiences have included appointments as District Attorney in Kodiak and Bethel and Assistant District Attorney in Kenai and Juneau.

After spending a few years in New Mexico as an assistant district attorney, McLean was asked to return to Alaska to head the Department of Law's new Rural Prosecutions Unit. The Rural Prosecutions Unit is located in the Office of Special Prosecutions and Appeals in Anchorage, but serves district attorney offices statewide by assisting when they are short staffed or when a case is so complex the rural attorneys are not able to take on the case without neglecting the day to day responsibilities of the office. The creation of this unit has become a true benefit to rural prosecution resulting in more convictions in rural Alaska. The course of action Ms. McLean took in implementing procedures for this new unit is largely responsible for its success.

McLean will serve dual roles as acting deputy while continuing to head the Office of Special Prosecutions and Appeals.

"Ms. McLean is a very capable, fair, and conscientious person," said Acting Attorney General Rick Svobodny. "I have great confidence in her ability to serve the criminal division well."

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Department Media Contacts: Communications Director Patty Sullivan at patty.sullivan@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6368. Information Officer Sam Curtis at sam.curtis@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6269.