The federal prosecutor’s office responsible for Dallas and much of North Texas has surpassed 100 assistant U.S. attorneys following the largest onboarding of prosecutors in the office’s history.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas announced the staffing milestone on September 3, 2026.
More than 40 assistant U.S. attorneys have joined the office since U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould took office in November 2025, according to the Department of Justice.
Prosecutors Added Across North Texas
The hiring initiative added prosecutors in Dallas, Abilene, Amarillo, Lubbock, Wichita Falls, and Fort Worth.
The recruits include experienced state and federal prosecutors, former federal judicial clerks, military veterans, private-sector litigators, and attorneys with backgrounds in complex criminal and civil cases. Several moved to Dallas specifically to join the office, according to the announcement.
“When I stepped into this role, my immediate priority was to build the strongest, most capable prosecutorial team this office has ever had,” Raybould said.
The Justice Department did not disclose the office’s exact new headcount, how many prosecutors were assigned to each location, or the total cost of the hiring expansion.
Office Handles More Than 1,500 Defendants Annually
Assistant U.S. attorneys prosecute federal crimes and represent the United States in civil litigation.
The additional prosecutors are expected to expand the district’s capacity to handle violent crime, drug trafficking, human trafficking, child exploitation, financial fraud, corporate misconduct, cyber intrusions, national-security threats, civil enforcement, and federal appeals.
The Northern District of Texas covers approximately 96,000 square miles. Its headquarters and U.S. attorney are based in Dallas.
The district’s Criminal Division prosecutes more than 1,500 defendants annually, according to the office. Its cases are commonly referred by agencies such as the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, and state and local law enforcement departments.
The office’s Civil Division represents the federal government in lawsuits and pursues certain cases involving alleged fraud against government programs. Its Appellate Division handles cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, which reviews federal cases from Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
Federal Officials Cite Regional Growth
Federal officials tied the expansion to North Texas’ rapid population and economic growth, which they said has been accompanied by increasingly complex criminal threats.
The district now serves nearly 9 million people, according to the September 3 announcement.
“North Texas is one of the fastest growing regions in the country, and the challenges we face are evolving just as quickly,” Raybould said.
The new attorneys were recruited from law firms, prosecutor’s offices, judicial clerkships, and other legal positions across the country. They attended law schools including Southern Methodist University, the University of Texas, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, Baylor University, Harvard University, Yale University, Georgetown University, and the University of Notre Dame.
Raybould said the district invested heavily in expanding its personnel to keep pace with the region’s growth and the changing demands placed on federal law enforcement.
The staffing milestone gives the Dallas-based office more prosecutors to manage criminal, civil, and appellate cases throughout one of the country’s largest and fastest-growing federal judicial districts.
Provided by Dallas Express
