Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York from August 2019 through February 2021, following the resignation of Geoffrey Berman. Strauss served in the SDNY for more than two decades, including as chief of the Criminal Division. In her role as Acting U.S.
Attorney she oversaw the prosecution of Ghislaine Maxwell, who was indicted in July 2020 and ultimately convicted in December 2021. Strauss appeared on behalf of the government in multiple court filings in the Maxwell case, including bail hearings and motions. She joined the law firm Debevoise and Plimpton after leaving the government.
Prior to her tenure as Acting U.S. Attorney she had held the title of Deputy U.S. Attorney for the district.