Mary Beth Buchanan | |
|---|---|
 Official Justice Department photo | |
| Acting Director of the Office on Violence Against Women | |
| In office November 2006 – December 2007 | |
| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Diane Stuart |
| Succeeded by | Cindy Dyer |
| Director of the Executive Office for United States Attorneys | |
| In office June 2004 – June 2005 | |
| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Guy A. Lewis |
| Succeeded by | Michael A. Battle |
| United States Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania | |
| In office September 14, 2001 – November 16, 2009 | |
| President | George W. Bush Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Fred Thieman |
| Succeeded by | Robert S. Cessar |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Roscoe, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Thomas C. Buchanan |
| Alma mater | California University of Pennsylvania (BA) University of Pittsburgh (JD) |
| Profession | Politician U.S. Attorney |
Mary Beth Buchanan (née Kotcella) is the former United States Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania. She was nominated by George W. Bush on September 5, 2001, and confirmed by the United States Senate on September 14, 2001.
Buchanan was the first woman and youngest person to be appointed to the position. Under Attorneys General John Ashcroft and Alberto Gonzales, Buchanan held two key Justice Department posts, splitting time between Washington, D.C., and Pittsburgh up until her resignation as Acting Director of the Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women in December 2007. In May 2010, Buchanan was a candidate for the United States House of Representatives for Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district, but was defeated in the Republican primary.