The U.S. Senate has confirmed Sean Costello as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Alabama, formalizing a role he has effectively carried out for several years.
Costello was first appointed to the position by the U.S. District Court in 2021. His Senate confirmation now provides the full backing of the Senate for the office he has already been leading.
Federal law allows the U.S. attorney general to appoint an interim U.S. attorney when the office is vacant. If no nominee has been confirmed within 120 days, the district court may appoint a U.S. attorney to serve until the Senate confirms a presidential nominee.
As U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Alabama, Costello oversees federal criminal and civil prosecutions across 13 counties in southwest Alabama, directing the work of assistant U.S. attorneys who handle cases ranging from drug trafficking and firearms violations to fraud and public corruption.
U.S. attorneys serve as the chief federal law enforcement officers within their districts, working alongside agencies such as the FBI, DEA, and local sheriff’s offices to investigate and prosecute violations of federal law. The Southern District of Alabama, headquartered in Mobile, is one of three federal judicial districts covering the state, along with the Northern and Middle districts of Alabama.
Costello’s confirmation cements his authority to continue leading the office’s prosecutorial priorities across the district.
