Former Bucks D.A. Confirmed As Pennsylvania Attorney General

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — First Deputy Attorney General and former Bucks County District Attorney Michelle Henry was confirmed on Wednesday by the Pennsylvania State Senate as Pennsylvania Attorney General.

"This is a powerful vote of confidence in our work and I am humbled to lead the dedicated team in the Office of Attorney General on behalf of every Pennsylvanian,” said Attorney General Henry. “Consumers, victims, and our partners in law enforcement now rely on the office in record numbers, and with this vote, we can continue to be the independent, fearless, and trusted voice Pennsylvanians have come to expect. There will be big challenges over the next two years, and, as your Attorney General, I promise we will step up and always have Pennsylvanians’ backs.”

The Attorney General is the state’s top law enforcement officer and operates with a wide range of responsibilities to protect and serve the citizens and agencies of the Commonwealth. The AG leads a staff of several hundred prosecutors, attorneys, investigators, agents and support staff in offices across the state, divided into four divisions: the Criminal Law Division, the Public Protection Division, the Civil Division and the Operations Division.

“Michelle Henry has the experience, talent, and dedication to the pursuit of justice that Pennsylvania needs in the Attorney General’s office – and that’s why I nominated her to serve out the remainder of my term,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “By confirming her nomination, the
Senate has guaranteed that Pennsylvanians have an Attorney General who will fight for them. I look forward to working with Attorney General Henry to build safer communities and protect the rights of Pennsylvanians.”

Before serving as First Deputy Attorney General, Henry dedicated more than 20 years of her career to the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office – taking on critical jobs including Chief of Major Crimes, Chief of Child Abuse, and First Assistant. She was appointed Bucks County District Attorney with a bipartisan vote in 2008. Henry has been a leading advocate for children throughout her career, prosecuting major child abuse cases and launching Bucks County’s children’s advocacy center. She has pushed major initiatives and took a leading role in educating junior prosecutors from across the Commonwealth.

“I applaud the confirmation of Michelle Henry as Pennsylvania Attorney General and know she will do a fantastic job in the role,” said Bucks County State Senator Steve Santarsiero. “I had the pleasure of working for then-First Deputy Attorney General Henry during my time in the Attorney General’s office and admire both her role in leading the agency at that time and her dedication to serving the people of Pennsylvania. I have no doubt she will do a fantastic job as Attorney General.”

During Henry’s confirmation hearing on March 6th before the Senate Judiciary Committee Sen. Santarsiero lauded her time as Bucks County District Attorney and her support for protecting children in the court system and the urgent need for the state legislature to pass Kayden’s Law.

Sen. Santarsiero also spoke of the limited jurisdiction of the Office of Attorney General and his proposed legislation to give the Attorney General concurrent jurisdiction to prosecute environmental crimes, which Henry remarked would help the Office of Attorney General better serve the people of the Commonwealth.

“I look forward to working with Attorney General Henry in my capacity as the Democratic Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee to strengthen the jurisdiction of the Attorney General’s office,” said Sen. Santarsiero.

Henry completed her bachelor’s degree in communication from Allegheny College in 1991 and received her J.D. from Widener University Commonwealth Law School in 1994. She was the Bucks County District Attorney from 2008 to 2010. She became the First Deputy Attorney General under then-Attorney General Josh Shapiro in 2016.

As First Deputy Attorney General under former Attorney General Josh Shapiro, Henry was responsible for overseeing all of the Office’s legal matters, including criminal cases to seek justice for victims, civil suits representing the Commonwealth and public protection cases fighting for the rights of Pennsylvania consumers. During her tenure, Henry was admitted to the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in North America; and received the Widener University Commonwealth Law School’s 2017 Excellence in Public Service Alumni Award for her “extraordinary contributions” to public service.