“In my civilian capacity I’m an assistant United States Attorney and have been for the past 13 years,” Captain Karen Gibbs said.

Gibbs was promoted to the rank of captain in 2008, making her the highest ranking African-American female attorney in the Navy (JAGC) worldwide.

Gibbs is the Commanding Officer, NR Navy Marine-Corps Appellate Review Activity 116 (government), which supports the Office of the Judge Advocate General,
Code 46 (NAMARA Government Unit), Washington Navy Yard, D.C. As such, she commands a unit of 14, including officers and enlisted, who provide responses to allegations of error in records of courtsmartial before the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces and the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Military Review.

A 1986 graduate of Howard University, Gibbs received
a B.B.A. in international business with a minor in political science and is a 1989 graduate from Georgetown University Law Center.

Gibbs was appointed as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan in 1995, where she first served in the Civil Division (Defensive Litigation Unit). In that capacity, she was responsible for representing the United States in all federal defensive civil litigation, with areas of litigation
including Title VII Employment Discrimination; medical
malpractice; Federal Torts Claims; Freedom of Information and Privacy Act suits; Constitutional torts; and Social Security disability claims.

“The U.S. Attorney is the chief law enforcement officer in this entire district because we prosecute all federal crime,” she said. “We represent the United States in all actions, including criminal and civil actions, and I have served as an attorney in
both the criminal and civil divisions of my office. I am a public servant and have been a public servant during my entire professional career.”

Her service has led to instituting affirmative civil rights actions, which involve Fair Housing Act discrimination and police misconduct. In May 2000, Gibbs transferred to the criminal division, controlled substances unit, where she is presently assigned,
and is responsible for prosecuting complex, multi-jurisdictional cases involving violations of federal narcotics laws.

The single mother of two is committed to the community
and is hoping she gets an opportunity to serve as the U.S. Attorney.

“My chief concern is that the people of the East District of Michigan can be certain that their chief law enforcement officer has an unwavering commitment to the eradication of public corruption and takes an equally firm stance against all federal crimes in this district,” Gibbs said.

“This includes the protection of the civil rights of all individuals and having an open ear to the concerns of not only law enforcement, but of all the citizens of the Eastern District.”