Markenzy Lapointe, the first Haitian-American to serve as United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, has announced his resignation, effective January 17, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.
Lapointe was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, where his mother worked as a street vendor and his father was a tailor. He moved to Miami with his mother and siblings at the age of 16.
The Haitian-American reflected on his journey and the significance of his role in his resignation statement.
“Given where I started, it has been uniquely meaningful to hold a role so central to the Department of Justice’s mission of supporting our collective well-being through the exercise of the rule of law,” he wrote.
Raised in Miami’s Liberty City neighborhood, Lapointe overcame significant challenges to build a distinguished career. After serving six years in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, including a tour in Iraq during the Gulf War, he earned a finance degree from Florida State University in 1993 and became a U.S. citizen in 1995. He later graduated from Florida State University College of Law in 1999 and began a legal career that included clerking for the Florida Supreme Court, serving as an assistant U.S. attorney, and working as a partner at prominent law firms.
Appointed by President Joe Biden and confirmed by the Senate in 2022, Lapointe was sworn in as U.S. attorney in January 2023. Reflecting on his time in the role, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work with “the talented lawyers and professional staff of the United States Attorney’s Office, as well as with the agents and employees of our partner federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies.” He described his colleagues as “honorable public servants” who meet the challenges of safeguarding communities “selflessly and without fanfare, at times at significant personal costs.”
Markenzy Lapointe also acknowledged the support of figures who helped him achieve the position, including President Biden, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, and Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott. “To all of them, thank you for trusting me to fulfill the duties of United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida,” he said.
During his tenure, Lapointe led efforts on high-profile cases and emphasized systemic approaches to justice. His departure signals the end of a remarkable chapter for South Florida’s legal community, with his legacy as a trailblazer leaving an indelible mark.
No successor has been announced.
