Joyce Vance

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Joyce Vance

| image = Joyce_White_Vance.jpg

| office = United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama

| appointer = Barack Obama

| term_start = August 7, 2009

| term_end = January 20, 2017

| predecessor = Alice Martin

| successor = Jay Town

| birth_name = Joyce Alene White

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|7|22}}

| birth_place = St. George, Utah, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| spouse = Bob Vance

| children = 4

| education = Bates College (BA)
University of Virginia (JD)

}}

Joyce Alene Vance (born July 22, 1960) is an American lawyer who served as the United States attorney for the Northern District of Alabama from 2009 to 2017. She was one of the first five U.S. attorneys, and the first female U.S. attorney, nominated by President Barack Obama.

Early life and career

Joyce Alene White was born on July 22, 1960, in St. George, Utah. She was raised by a divorced mother in the middle-class Los Angeles suburb of Monterey Park, California.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bates.edu/news/2009/12/23/the-prosecutors-art/|last1=Hansen|first1=Jeff|date=December 23, 2009|title='Well-nigh unshakable' Joyce White Vance '82 is one of Obama's first U.S. attorneys|work=Bates Magazine|access-date=October 28, 2022|language=en}} She received a Bachelor of Arts magna cum laude from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, in 1982 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1985.

Vance was a litigator in private practice at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP in Washington, DC, before joining the United States Attorney's Office in the Northern District of Alabama in 1991.{{cite web|last1=MacDonald|first1=John|title=Senate Confirms Joyce Vance|url=http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2009/08/us_senate_confirms_joyce_vance.html|website=Al.Com|date=August 7, 2009|accessdate=September 26, 2014}} She spent ten years in the Criminal Division, working on investigations including that of Eric Robert Rudolph, who bombed a Birmingham abortion clinic and killed a police officer and set a string of church fires in the district.{{cite web|title=Obama Nominates Vance as U.S. Attorney|url=http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20090517/news/905169927|website=Tuscaloosa News|accessdate=September 26, 2014}} She successfully prosecuted five Boaz, Alabama, police officers charged with Conspiracy to Violate Civil Rights.{{cite web|last1=Craft|first1=Kim|title=Judge Revokes Hooks' Bond|url=http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/20020314/NEWS/203140309|website=Gadsden Times|accessdate=September 26, 2014}} She moved to the Appellate Division in 2002 and became the Chief of that Division in 2005.{{cite web|last1=MacDonald|first1=John|title=Vance Sworn In|url=http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2009/08/us_attorney_joyce_vance_will_b.html|website=Al.Com|date=August 10, 2009|accessdate=September 26, 2014}}

U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Alabama

Vance was nominated to become U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Alabama by President Barack Obama on May 15, 2009, and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 7, 2009. She was sworn in on August 27, 2009, with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder in attendance.{{cite web|last1=MacDonald|first1=John|title=U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance Will be Sworn in|url=http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2009/08/us_attorney_joyce_vance_will_b.html|website=Al.Com|date=August 10, 2009|accessdate=September 26, 2014}} Holder tapped Vance to serve on his first Attorney General's Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys in October 2009.{{cite news|last1=Johnson|first1=Carrie|title=Attorney General Prepares to Fill Advisory Panel|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/25/AR2009102501456.html|newspaper=Washington Post|accessdate=September 26, 2014}}{{cite web|last1=Palazzolo|first1=Joe|title=Holder Announces New AGAC Members|url=http://www.mainjustice.com/2009/10/25/report-holder-to-announce-agac-membership/|website=Main Justice|accessdate=October 1, 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006093143/http://www.mainjustice.com/2009/10/25/report-holder-to-announce-agac-membership/|archivedate=October 6, 2014}}{{cite web|last1=Lawson|first1=Brian|title=Key Committees|url=http://blog.al.com/breaking/2009/10/attorney_general_names_white_v.html|website=al.com|date=October 26, 2009|accessdate=September 26, 2014}} Vance co-chaired the AGAC's Criminal Practice Subcommittee, along with Vermont U.S. Attorney Tristram Coffin.{{cite web|title=Meet the U.S. Attorney|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao/aln/meetattorney.html|website=Justice Department|accessdate=September 26, 2014}}

Vance helmed the first case of material support of terrorism in the Northern District of Alabama in 2011.{{cite web|last1=Faulk|first1=Kent|title=Uzbek Native Charged|url=http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2012/02/uzbekistan_native_charged_with.html|website=Al.Com|date=February 10, 2012|accessdate=September 26, 2014}} The defendant, Ulugbek Kodirov, pleaded guilty to charges of threatening to kill the President and material support of terrorism the following year and received a sentence of more than fifteen years in prison.{{cite web|last1=Reeves|first1=Jay|title=Kodirov Sentenced|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/13/ulugbek-kodirov-sentenced-obama_n_1672337.html|website=Huffington Post|accessdate=September 26, 2014}} Vance was also instrumental in building awareness about cyber crime and working with businesses in key sectors on threat minimization and critical incident response{{cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndal/pr/us-attorney-moderate-panel-experts-cybercrime-and-security |title=U.S. Attorney to Moderate Panel of Experts on Cybercrime and Security | USAO-NDAL | Department of Justice |publisher=Justice.gov |date=March 20, 2015 |accessdate=March 14, 2019}}{{cite web|last=Sharpe |first=Keisa |url=http://alabamanewscenter.com/2015/03/25/staying-one-step-ahead-of-cyber-crime/ |title=Staying one step ahead of cyber crime |publisher=Alabama NewsCenter |date=March 25, 2015 |accessdate=March 14, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ice-director-salda%C3%B1a-discusses-combating-cyber-crime-doj-assistant-attorney-general |title=ICE Director Saldaña discusses combating cyber crime with DOJ Assistant Attorney General for National Security |publisher=ICE.gov |date=September 24, 2015 |accessdate=March 14, 2019}}{{Cite web |url=https://cyberhuntsvilletennesseevalleyinitiative.org/event/2015-doj-cybersecurity-summit/ |title=2015 DOJ Cybersecurity Seminar | Cyber Huntsville |access-date=November 12, 2016 |archive-date=November 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113032540/https://cyberhuntsvilletennesseevalleyinitiative.org/event/2015-doj-cybersecurity-summit/ |url-status=dead }} and prosecuted the first-ever cyber cases in the Northern District.{{cite web|url=https://www.databreaches.net/two-to-plead-guilty-to-fraud-hipaa-violations/ |title=Two to plead guilty to fraud, HIPAA violations |publisher=Databreaches.net |date=February 8, 2019 |accessdate=March 14, 2019}}

Vance was credited with pursuing public corruption prosecutions with integrity.{{cite web|last1=Blalock|first1=Bob|title=OUR VIEW: Birmingham's new U.S. attorney, Joyce Vance, says the right things about prosecuting public corruption|url=http://blog.al.com/birmingham-news-commentary/2009/08/our_view_birminghams_new_us_at.html|website=Al.Com|date=August 12, 2009|accessdate=September 27, 2014}} Public corruption prosecutions were one of her top priorities.{{cite web|last1=Patterson|first1=Nick|title=Putting the Bad Guys Away|url=http://weldbham.com/blog/2014/08/26/putting-the-bad-guys-away-birmingham/|website=Weld|accessdate=September 26, 2014}} Maurice William Campbell, Director of the Alabama Small Business Development Consortium, was sentenced in March 2012 to more than 15 years in prison and ordered to pay $5.9 million restitution for using his position to obtain funds meant for small businesses for his own use.{{cite web|title=FBI Campbell Release|url=https://www.fbi.gov/birmingham/press-releases/2012/state-consortium-director-sentenced-to-over-15-years-in-prison-for-7.3-million-fraud-conspiracy|website=FBI.Gov|accessdate=September 26, 2014}} In 2013, she successfully prosecuted the Director of the Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity for using half a million dollars of the agency's funds, meant for Headstart and other programs, to purchase real estate for herself.{{cite web|title=Prosecutors Charge Former JCCEO Official|url=http://ftpcontent.worldnow.com/wbma/misc/cunningham-release.pdf|website=worldnow.com|accessdate=September 26, 2014|archive-date=August 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817073846/http://ftpcontent.worldnow.com/wbma/misc/cunningham-release.pdf|url-status=dead}} She also prosecuted cases involving corruption and other misconduct by law enforcement.{{cite web|url=http://whnt.com/2014/12/29/federal-indictment-huntsville-police-officer-conspired-to-make-cocaine-trafficking-charges-go-away/ |title=Federal indictment: Huntsville police officer conspired to make cocaine trafficking charges go away |publisher=WHNT.com |date=December 29, 2014 |accessdate=March 14, 2019}} She hired the first prosecutor in the Huntsville office dedicated solely to cyber prosecutions.

Vance developed a federal, state, and local law enforcement working group to deal with rapidly increasing heroin overdose deaths before the issue rose to national awareness.{{cite web|title=spike in deaths|url=http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2014/05/spike_in_needle-in-the-arm_dea.html|website=al.com|date=May 30, 2014|accessdate=September 26, 2014}}{{cite web|title=Vance on Heroin|url=http://www.wbhm.org/News/2014/VanceHeroin|website=WBHM|accessdate=September 26, 2014|archive-date=October 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018073221/http://www.wbhm.org/News/2014/VanceHeroin|url-status=dead}} At one point, her office arrested and charged more than 40 heroin dealers and traffickers in one week.{{cite web|last1=addiction coalition|title=community action needed|url=http://addictionpreventioncoalition.org/NewsEvents/LocalNews/tabid/161/ID/3177/Community-action-needed-as-heroin-deaths-rapidly-climb-opinion-from-Joyce-Vance.aspx|website=addiction prevention coalition|accessdate=September 26, 2014|archive-date=April 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415003503/http://addictionpreventioncoalition.org/NewsEvents/LocalNews/tabid/161/ID/3177/Community-action-needed-as-heroin-deaths-rapidly-climb-opinion-from-Joyce-Vance.aspx|url-status=dead}} She held a community summit and initiated community-wide planning to develop partnerships between law enforcement, public health officials, and addiction prevention and treatment specialists.{{cite web|title=Groups Organized to Address Opiate Abuse|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/aug/19/groups-organized-to-address-alabama-opiate-abuse/|website=Washington Times|accessdate=September 27, 2014}} She continued to aggressively prosecute heroin traffickers throughout her time in office, ensuring that ringleaders received sentences of more than 20 years.{{cite web|url=https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/birmingham/news/press-releases/leader-of-birmingham-heroin-and-cocaine-drug-ring-sentenced-to-22-years |title=Leader Of Birmingham Heroin And Cocaine Drug Ring Sentenced To 22 Years | USAO-NDAL | Department of Justice |publisher=Fbi.gov |date=July 10, 2014 |accessdate=March 14, 2019}} The working group developed in a community-engaged initiative widely credited with working on all fronts to reduce heroin and prescription opiate addiction and overdose deaths,{{Cite web |url=http://www.knowdope.org/initiative/ |title=The Pills to Needles Initiative — KNOW DOPE |access-date=November 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113033334/http://www.knowdope.org/initiative/ |archive-date=November 13, 2016 |url-status=dead }}

Vance established a civil rights enforcement unit in the office.{{cite web|title=Doj Establishes Civil Rights Unit|url=http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2012/08/22/doj-establishes-alabama-civil-rights-unit-in-wake-illegal-immigration-crackdown/|website=Fox News Latino|accessdate=September 26, 2014}}{{cite web|last1=Faulk|first1=Kent|title=New Unit|url=http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2012/08/us_attorney_new_north_alabama.html|website=Al.com|date=August 22, 2012|accessdate=September 26, 2014}} In 2011, she successfully challenged Alabama's immigration bill, HB 56, on constitutional grounds.{{cite web|last1=Epstein|first1=Reid|title=DOJ Sues Alabama Over Immigration|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/60469.html|website=Politico|accessdate=September 26, 2014}}{{cite web|last1=Lawson|first1=Brian|title=Immigration Law Blocked|url=http://blog.al.com/breaking/2013/11/final_settlement_reached_block.html|website=al.com|date=November 26, 2013|accessdate=September 26, 2014}} The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals found key portions of the law unconstitutional, and in 2013 the District Court entered a settlement in which seven challenged provisions of the law were permanently blocked.{{cite web|last1=Lawson|first1=Brian|title=Settlement Reached|url=http://blog.al.com/breaking/2013/11/final_settlement_reached_block.html|website=al.com|date=November 26, 2013|accessdate=September 26, 2014}} Vance's office engaged with the University of Alabama on allegations of racial discrimination in sorority rush in the University of Alabama's sorority system when students brought to light the role of alumni in refusing admission to minority candidates.{{cite web|last1=reeves|first1=jay|title=UA Sorority|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/19/sorority-segregation-alabama_n_3957263.html|website=Huffington Post|accessdate=September 26, 2014}}{{cite web|last1=Hammontree|first1=Mark|title=Crimson and White|url=http://cw.ua.edu/article/2013/09/six-minority-women-accept-sorority-bids|website=Crimson and White|date=September 23, 2013|accessdate=September 26, 2014}}

In 2014, Vance prosecuted a man for trying to hire a KKK member to murder his African-American neighbor.{{cite web|title=Ala. man going to prison for KKK murder-for-hire plot|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/alabama-man-guilty-of-murder-for-hire-plot-against-black-neighbor/|website=CBS News|date=April 15, 2014 |accessdate=September 27, 2014}} Vance was involved in key work to protect the rights of Alabama voters, including a settlement of Alabama's violation of the Motor Voter Act that brought the state into compliance,{{Cite web |url=http://governor.alabama.gov/newsroom/2015/11/state-alabama-signs-mou-doj-motor-voter-compliance/ |title=State of Alabama Signs MOU with DOJ on Motor Voter Compliance - Office of the Governor of Alabama |access-date=November 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113040841/http://governor.alabama.gov/newsroom/2015/11/state-alabama-signs-mou-doj-motor-voter-compliance/ |archive-date=November 13, 2016 |url-status=dead }} and a settlement with Jefferson County, Alabama of countywide violations of access to the polls for citizens with disabilities.{{cite web|url=https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2016/10/jefferson_county_agrees_with_d.html|title=Jefferson County agrees with DOJ to improve access to polls for disabled voters|first=Kent|last=Faulk|date=October 27, 2016|website=al.com|accessdate=March 14, 2019}} Vance, along with Civil Rights Division Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, also launched a statewide investigation into inhumane conditions in Alabama's prisons.{{cite web|url=https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2016/10/doj_launches_investigation_of.html|title=DOJ investigating violence and rape inside Alabama men's prisons|first=Kent|last=Faulk|date=October 6, 2016|website=al.com|accessdate=March 14, 2019}}

Vance adopted a "smart on crime" approach to violent and recidivist crime, intending to prosecute the most significant cases facing the district so that communities would be safer. In addition to violent crime prosecution, she worked with other community partners on prevention through a violence reduction initiative and on reentry initiatives, such as Ban the Box and legal clinics to help formerly incarcerated individuals reenter the community successfully and find jobs.{{cn|date=May 2024}}

In April 2014, Amedysis Home Health Care agreed to pay $150 million to settle claims of Medicare fraud against them that were pursued by Vance's office working together with DOJ's Civil Division and several other U.S. Attorney's Offices.{{cite web|title=Home Health Care Company to Pay $150 Million|url=http://www.insurancefraud.org/IFNS-detail.htm?key=18627#.VCW7wOe7mW4|website=InsuranceFraud.Org|accessdate=September 26, 2014|archive-date=October 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023013436/http://www.insurancefraud.org/IFNS-detail.htm?key=18627#.VCW7wOe7mW4|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Amedysis Agrees to Pay $150 Million|url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/amedisys-home-health-companies-agree-pay-150-million-resolve-false-claims-act-allegations|website=DOJ|date=April 23, 2014}} A month earlier, Vance announced that Hospice Compassus would pay $3.9 million to resolve an investigation into Medicare fraud.{{cite web|title=Hospice Compassus to pay $3.9 Million|url=http://bergermontague.com/blog/index.php/hospice-compassus-to-pay-3-9-million-to-settle-false-claims-act-lawsuit/|website=BergerMontague.com|date=March 27, 2014|accessdate=September 26, 2014}} Vance also oversaw a case in which American Family Care agreed to pay $1.2 million to the federal government under the False Claims Act.{{cite web|title=American Family Care to Pay $1.2 Million|url=http://www.seattlewhistleblowerattorneys.com/american-family-care-inc-to-pay-12-million-to-settle-allegations-of-inflated-medicare-claims.html|website=Seattle Whistle Blower Attorneys|accessdate=September 26, 2014}} In June 2012, Rural/Metro Ambulance agreed to pay $5.4 million to resolve allegations that it was engaged in improper billing and provision of unnecessary service.{{cite web|title=Whistleblower Prompts Rural/Metro Ambulance to Pay $5.4 Million Qui Tam Settlement|url=http://fraudblawg.com/2012/06/19/whistleblower-prompts-ruralmetro-ambulance-to-pay-5-4-million-qui-tam-settlement/|website=FraudBlawg|accessdate=September 26, 2014}}

Vance prioritized fraud cases, prosecuting Jonathan Dunning for the $14 million fraud that diverted funds meant to provide healthcare to low-income individuals.{{cite web|url=https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2016/06/jury_former_birmingham_health.html|title=Jury: Former Birmingham Health Care CEO guilty in fraud case|first=Kent|last=Faulk|date=June 17, 2016|website=al.com|accessdate=March 14, 2019}} She prosecuted a series of cases involving fraud in car loan origination.{{cite web|last=Silver |first=Jessica |url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/10/01/loan-fraud-inquiry-said-to-focus-on-used-car-dealers/?_r=0 |title=Loan Fraud Inquiry Said to Focus on Used-Car Dealers - The New York Times |location=United States |publisher=Dealbook.nytimes.com |date=October 1, 2014 |accessdate=March 14, 2019}} Following the tornadoes that swept through Alabama on April 27, 2011, doing severe damage across the region in what became known as the 2011 Super Outbreak, Vance's office took a zero-tolerance stance on disaster fraud.{{cite web|last1=Faulk|first1=Kent|title=Disaster Fraud|url=http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2013/04/us_attorney_17_people_charged.html|website=Al.Com|date=April 26, 2013|accessdate=September 26, 2014}}{{cite web|last1=DeMonia|first1=Robin|title=Tornado Fraud|url=http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2011/06/alabama_tornadoes_fraud_blows.html|website=al.com|date=June 19, 2011|accessdate=September 26, 2014}} In April 2014 she successfully prosecuted a ring of five people who conspired to make $2.4 million in fraudulent claims against the BP Oil Deepwater Horizon compensation fund.{{cite web|title=Gulf Oil Fund Fraud|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao/aln/News/April%202014/April%2030,%202014%20Gulf%20Oil.html|website=DOJ.gov|accessdate=September 26, 2014}}

Post U.S. Attorney career

In April 2017, the University of Alabama School of Law announced that Vance would join the law school as a Distinguished Visiting Lecturer in Law (effective August 2017) teaching in the areas of criminal justice reform, criminal procedure, and civil rights.{{cite web|title=Former U.S. Attorney Named UA Distinguished Visiting Lecturer in Law|url=https://www.law.ua.edu/blog/news/former-u-s-attorney-named-ua-distinguished-visiting-lecturer-in-law/|website=law.ua.edu/|date=April 18, 2017 |accessdate=April 25, 2017}}

In 2018, she signed a contract to become an MSNBC contributor, frequently providing on-air commentary regarding developments in the Mueller investigation and other legal issues that involved the Trump administration.{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/02/robert-mueller-cable-news-pundits-686877|title=Meet the Mueller pundits|last1=Samuelsohn|first1=Darren|date=July 2, 2018|work=POLITICO|access-date=August 18, 2018|last2=Schwartz|first2=Jason|language=en}} Since 2021, she also co-hosts the #SistersInLaw podcast with Jill Wine-Banks, Barbara McQuade and Kimberly Atkins Stohr, and the Cafe Insider podcast with fellow former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara.{{cite news|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/women-legal-trailblazers-launch-new-podcast-sistersinlaw-with-politicon-media-301232966.html |title=Women Legal Trailblazers Launch New Podcast "#SistersInLaw" With Politicon Media |newspaper=Cision PR Newswire|date= February 23, 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://www.voxmedia.com/2021/4/19/22392173/joyce-vance-named-co-host-for-the-cafe-insider-podcast |title=Joyce Vance Named Co-Host for the Cafe Insider Podcast|newspaper=Vox Media|date=Apr 19, 2021}} In June 2022, Vance launched the Civil Discourse newsletter, which has since gained a readership of over 215,000 subscribers.{{Cite web|url=https://joycevance.substack.com/p/civil-discourse|title=Civil Discourse|first=Joyce|last=Vance|date=June 7, 2022}} {{Cite web|url=https://joycevance.substack.com/p/the-week-ahead-99a|title=The Week Ahead|first=Joyce|last=Vance|date=February 5, 2024}} She sits on the bipartisan advisory board of States United Democracy Center.{{Cite web |title=JOYCE VANCE |url=https://statesuniteddemocracy.org/people/joyce-vance/ |access-date=2022-08-18 |website=States United Democracy Center |language=en}} In 2024 Joyce Vance joined the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law as a senior fellow {{cite web | url=https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/joyce-vance-joins-brennan-center-senior-fellow | title=Joyce Vance Joins the Brennan Center as Senior Fellow | Brennan Center for Justice }}

Personal life

Vance is married to Bob Vance, a Jefferson County Circuit Court judge. They have four children. Vance is the daughter-in-law of federal judge Robert S. Vance, who was murdered by a mail bomb in 1989.

Vance is Jewish. {{Cite news|url=http://www.elliebelly.com/blog/|last1=Vance|first1=Joyce|date=March 14, 2018|title=Elliebelly|access-date=February 7, 2021|language=en}} She had a blog (now dormant) about knitting and yarns, and raises chickens.