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Top 10 Facts about Sally Yates

Sally Yates is an American lawyer who was appointed United States Deputy Attorney General by President Barack Obama in 2015. After the inauguration of President Donald Trump, he appointed her as Acting Attorney General serving for 10 days.

Trump dismissed Sally for insubordination after she instructed the Justice Department not to make legal arguments defending Executive Order 13769, which temporarily banned the admission of refugees and barred travel from certain Muslim-majority countries, saying that terrorists were using the U.S. refugee resettlement program to enter the county. After her dismissal, she returned to private practice.

Learn more about Sally Yates in these top 10 facts.

1. Sally Yates Was Born in Atlanta

Sally was born on August 20, 1960, in Atlanta, Georgia, to John Kelley Quillian, an attorney and judge on the Georgia Court of Appeals, and Xara DeBeaugrine Quillian, an interior designer. Sally’s grandmother had been one of the first women admitted to the Georgia Bar; however, she was not hired as an attorney; instead, working as a legal secretary for Yates鈥檚 grandfather.

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2. Sally Graduated Magna Cum Laude from The University of Georgia School of Law

Sally Yates, United States Deputy Attorney General. Photo by U.S. Government-

She went to Dunwoody High School and attended the University of Georgia, and in 1982 she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism.

In 1986, Sally was admitted to the State Bar of Georgia, and from 1986 to 1989, she was an associate at the law firm King & Spalding in Atlanta, specializing in commercial litigation.

Also in 1986, Sally earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Georgia School of Law, graduating magna cum laude, and while in school, she was the executive editor of the Georgia Law Review.

3. Sally Was the Lead Prosecutor Against the Olympic Bomber Eric Rudolph

Sally became Chief of the Fraud and Public Corruption Section in 1994 and was the lead prosecutor in the case of Eric Rudolph, who committed the Centennial Olympic Park bombing. Eric Rudolph is a terrorist convicted for a series of anti-abortion and anti-gay bombings across the southern United States between 1996 and 1998 that killed two people and injured over 120 others.

4. Sally Became Deputy Attorney General in 2015

The United States Senate voted 84-12 to confirm Yates as Deputy Attorney General of the United States on May 13, 2015; this is the second-highest-ranking position in the Justice Department. Sally served under Attorney General Loretta Lynch, who took office shortly before Yate鈥檚 confirmation.

As the Deputy Attorney General, she was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Justice Department, including 113,000 Justice Department employees. In 2015, Sally authored the policy known as the Yates memo, prioritizing the prosecution of executives for corporate crimes.

During her final days as deputy Attorney General, Sally oversaw the review of 16,000 petitions for executive clemency, making recommendations to the President.

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5. Sally Was the First Woman to Lead the Office as United States Attorney

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On March 10, 2010, Sally was confirmed by the Senate as the U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Georgia, nominated by President Barack Obama, and she became the first woman to hold a U.S. Attorney position in the Northern District of Georgia. 

During her time as U.S. Attorney, she was appointed by Attorney General Eric Holder to be Vice Chair of the Attorney General鈥檚 Advisory Committee.

In January 2017, Sally accepted a request from the incoming Trump administration to be acting Attorney General beginning on January 20, 2017, until the successor for Attorney General would be confirmed by the Senate.

On July 28, 2017, a New York Times editorial published by Sally expressed concern about Donald Trump鈥檚 political influence on the Justice Department, writing, 鈥淧resident Trump鈥檚 actions appear to destroy the fundamental independence of the Justice Department. Its investigations and prosecutions must be conducted free from any political interference or influence. 鈥� The very foundation of our justice system-the rule of law depends on it.鈥�

6. Sally Oversaw Former President Obama鈥檚 Clemency Initiative

President Obama’s final days in the administration exercised his constitutional power to grant executive clemency (pardon, commutation of sentence, reprieve, restitution, and remission of fine). Sally was appointed to oversee the review of 16,000 petitions for presidential executive clemency.

Obama holds the record for the largest single-day use of the clemency power, granting 330 commutations on January 9, 2017, his last full day in office. Obama also issued more commutations than the past 13 presidents combined.

7. Sally Oversaw the Investigation of Abuse Claims from The National Women鈥檚 Soccer League

In October 2021, she was hired to oversee an investigation regarding abuse claims made by players from the National Women鈥檚 Soccer League, whose Commissioner Lisa Baird resigned in the wake of complaints of sexual improprieties against coaches, including Richie Burke and Paul Riley.

The United States Soccer Federation indicated that Sally would have full autonomy to pursue a resolution of the allegation. A final report issued in early October 2022 detailed widespread sexual coercion, abuse, and unprofessional behavior throughout the league, noting that several teams and prominent league executives deliberately interfered with the investigation process or refused to participate.

8. Sally is Known for Standing by the Law Regardless of the Sitting President鈥檚 Political Party

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Sally protested President Donald Trump’s immigration ban, and the Trump administration said she betrayed them. She has a reputation for standing her ground and sticking by the law, regardless of who鈥檚 in office.

Sally has served for nearly three-decade, serving presidents of both parties defending the Constitution and holding terrorists and other criminals accountable. She advocated strongly and made the Obama administration pause on policies she thought would be harmful.

9. Sally is Married to J. Corner Yates

Sally is a mother and wife. She is married to J. Corner Yates, an Atlanta Speech School executive director, and was awarded an honorary degree from Oglethorpe University in 2017. The couple has two children, a daughter, Kelly Malone, and a son James Quillian. His husband unsuccessfully ran for Congress as a Democrat.

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10. Sally Has Received Several Honors

Sally received Emory University School of Law鈥檚 Emory Public Interest Committee (EPIC) Inspiration Award. After her dismissal as Acting Attorney General, Representative Jackie Speier nominated her for the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award, and Georgia State Senator Elena Parent introduced a resolution commending Sally.

In April 2017, she received the Mary Church Terrell Freedom and Justice Award during the Detroit NAACP鈥檚 62nd Annual Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner.