Michelle A. Henry (c. 1969)[3] is an American prosecutor who has served as the attorney general of Pennsylvania since 2023. She was appointed to the role by Governor Josh Shapiro to replace himself in the role. She previously served under Shapiro as first deputy attorney general. Henry formerly served as the district attorney of Bucks County, Pennsylvania from 2008 to 2010. She declined to run for election to a full term in the attorney general's office in the 2024 election. Shaprio subsequently appointed Henry to become Pennsylvania Inspector General in 2025.
After Bucks County District Attorney Diane Gibbons was elected to the court of common pleas in 2008,[8] Henry was appointed to serve the remaining two years of Gibbons's term by a majority vote of the county's 12 jurists.[9] She declined to pursue election to a full term, but remained with the D.A.'s office as the first assistant district attorney.[2] While working for the Bucks County D.A., Henry would be brought in by Montgomery County D.A.'s office to prosecute cases that would have created a conflict of interest for the office. In 2016, Henry was tapped by the Montgomery County D.A. to successfully co-prosecute Pennsylvania Attorney GeneralKathleen Kane for misuse of office and perjury.[8][6]
When Josh Shapiro was elected attorney general in 2016, he tapped Henry to be first deputy attorney general. After Shapiro was elected governor in 2022, Henry replaced Shapiro when he was sworn in on January 17, 2023.[6] She was officially made attorney general by a unanimous confirmation vote in the Pennsylvania Senate on March 8.[10][3] Before being confirmed, Henry stated she would not run for election in the 2024 election.[1]
Henry has focused on child abuse cases throughout her prosecutorial career.[1] In 1998, she became head of Bucks County's child abuse prosecution unit.[5] She also helped launch Bucks County's Children’s Advocacy Center, a child abuse investigative and treatment nonprofit.[8] Henry was named "Champion of the Year" by the Pennsylvania Court Appointed Special Advocates in 2023.[11]
In 2024, Shapiro announced Henry would become Pennsylvania Inspector General on January 21, 2025.[12]
^ abMcCrystal, Laura (December 16, 2016). "Bucks prosecutor gets state post". The Morning Call. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved December 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Michelle A. Henry". National Association of Attorneys General. Archived from the original on September 12, 2024. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
^ abcMyers Kelly, Virginia (Fall–Winter 2002). "Alumni Profile: Michelle Henry '91". Allegheny College Magazine. Allegheny College. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
▌2 Unknown (2 territories) An asterisk (*) indicates that the officeholder is serving in an acting capacity. State abbreviations link to position articles.
