Bucks County First Assistant District Attorney Lands Job In AG's Office

First Assistant District Attorney in the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office Michelle Henry has been named the first woman to serve as First Deputy Attorney General in Pennsylvania history as Attorney General-elect Josh Shapiro announced her appointment Thursday.

As First Deputy, Henry – 48, a native of Greensburg, Westmoreland County, graduate of Allegheny College, and the Widener University School of Law – will be responsible for overseeing all legal, criminal and civil matters in the Office of Attorney General, and will report directly to the Attorney General.

Henry, has served in every possible role, including as an assistant D.A., deputy D.A., chief deputy, senior deputy, chief of major crimes and chief of child abuse, according to a release from Shapiro's office.

In January 2008, Henry was appointed as Bucks County District Attorney by a bipartisan vote of the Bucks County Common Pleas bench, and served as DA for nearly two years.

“I am very pleased that Michelle agreed to join my team as First Deputy Attorney General,” Shapiro said in a statement. “Throughout her exemplary career as a Pennsylvania prosecutor, she has tried every kind of tough case imaginable, making her extremely well qualified to take on this job. As the first woman to serve in this role in Commonwealth history, she’ll bring a new perspective to the job and ensure diversity in the Office of Attorney General, as I’ve promised.”

“It is an honor to have been selected by Attorney General-Elect Shapiro to serve as his First Deputy Attorney General,” Henry said in a statement. “Josh is a strong leader with integrity and vision, and I am excited to work with him and the dedicated staff of the Office of Attorney General to serve and protect the citizens of this great Commonwealth.”

Some of Henry's career highlights include re-trying and convicting Richard Laird for first-degree murder, after his original conviction and death sentence in a 1987 murder was overturned by a judge; and successfully trying and convicting Joshua Benson in the rapes of 10 women, resulting in a lengthy prison term.

While serving as Bucks County District Attorney, Henry was instrumental in the founding and creation of the Children’s Advocacy Center, a non-profit agency that works with local law enforcement, victims’ advocates and health-care facilities to investigate and treat children who have been physically or sexually abused.

“The Children’s Advocacy Center revolutionized how we respond to child abuse in Bucks County,” CAC Founding Executive Director Leslie Slingsby said in a statement. “Michelle Henry was one of the leaders who made this happen. The Center makes children and their families a priority — and it makes the professionals who work on their cases a team. It’s the best thing to happen in child protection in my career.”

As chairman of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency, Shapiro has made the expansion of child advocacy centers a priority throughout the Commonwealth.

“You will not ever see a better prosecutor – with better judgment – than Michelle Henry,” Bucks County District Attorney Matt Weintraub said in a statement. “Bucks County’s grievous loss is Pennsylvania’s incredible gain.”

“Attorney General-Elect Shapiro could not have selected a more qualified or highly-regarded prosecutor than Michelle Henry to serve as First Deputy,” Executive Director of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association Rich Long said in a statement. “Michelle brings extensive experience, tenacity, intelligence, compassion and nonpartisanship to this position. We congratulate the Attorney General-Elect on this outstanding appointment.”

Image via Bucks County District Attorney's Office