Margaret Chiara

Margaret Chiara

Margaret M. Chiara is most notable for serving as United States Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, from 2001 until she was dismissed in the Dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy; her forced resignation was effective March 16, 2007. She was Michigan’s first female U.S. attorney

Chiara was associated with a private law firm in rural Cass County before becoming a prosecutor. For twelve years she was a teacher and educational administrator, with a masters in administration from Pace University and an undergraduate degree is from Fordham University. Her interest in education law and school finance reform led to Rutgers Law School.

Subsequently, she was twice elected Cass County prosecutor, and was the first woman elected to serve as president of the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan (PAAM). Then in 1999, Ms. Chiara joined the staff of the Office of the Chief Justice at the Michigan Supreme Court.