Sarah Isgur to Speak at NAFUSA Conference

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Sarah Isgur, an attorney, author, legal commentator, podcast host, and former
spokeswoman for the Department of Justice, is scheduled to speak at NAFUSA’s 2026
annual conference on Friday morning, October 16, 2026. The conference will be held at
the Ritz Carlton St. Louis, in Clayton, Missouri.

Isgur is widely known for her work discussing and writing about the intersection of law,
politics, and media. She hosts the legal podcast Advisory Opinions, serves as editor of
SCOTUSblog, and appears as a contributor and commentator on legal and political
developments. Since 2021 she has been an analyst for ABC News. She is also the
author of the NYT bestselling book, Last Branch Standing; A Potentially Surprising,
Occasionally Witty Journey Inside Today’s Supreme Court, which has been described
as a “myth-busting glimpse into the inner workings of the Supreme Court.”

After earning a BA from Northwestern University in history and political science and
attending the London School of Economics, Isgur went on to Harvard Law School,
receiving her J.D. in 2008. She clerked for Judge Edith H. Jones of the U.S. Court of
Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans. Earlier in her career, she worked across all
three branches of the federal government, including Director of the DOJ’s Office of
Public Affairs, and held senior roles in national political campaigns.

Conference attendees will be treated to a fascinating discussion of the current Supreme
Court showcasing Isgur’s insight into the judicial temperament of the justices. Her
podcasts reflect her extensive legal and political background in an entertaining
analytical, fast-paced and conversational speaking style. Her presentation promises to
be very interesting and thought-provoking.

Passing of Former U.S. Attorney Sherry Matteucci

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Sherry Scheel Matteucci, a former United States Attorney for the District of Montana
passed away on June 11, 2026. She was 79. Her career included major federal prosecutions, leadership within the state bar, and long-standing service to the legal profession.

Matteucci served as U.S. Attorney for the State of Montana from 1993 to 2001 after
being appointed during the Clinton administration. During her tenure she oversaw
several nationally watched matters involving federal law enforcement in Montana,
including the prosecution of members of the Montana Freemen and coordination related
to the Unabomber case after Theodore Kaczynski’s arrest in the state.

She graduated from the University of Montana School of Law in 1979 and went on to
practice with the Billings, Montana firm Crowley, Haughey, Hanson, Toole & Dietrich,
where she became a partner before entering federal service. After stepping down as
U.S. Attorney in 2001, she began a private law firm concentrating on mediation and
conflict resolution.

Beyond her work as a federal prosecutor, Matteucci was known for breaking barriers in
Montana’s legal community. She became the first woman to serve as president of the
State Bar of Montana and later received major professional honors, including the State
Bar’s William J. Jameson Award, its highest honor.

Former U.S. Attorneys Remain a Resource for the Offices They Once Led

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For many members of NAFUSA, service to the Department of Justice does not end
when a presidential commission expires. Many former U.S. Attorneys continue to stay
connected, either formally or informally, to the offices they once led, offering
encouragement, perspective, and practical support to the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who
carry forward the daily work of federal prosecution. NAFUSA members often remain
connected to their former districts by attending office events, participating in reunions,
speaking with new prosecutors, and making themselves available as informal sounding
boards. That members are doing this is no surprise. Since its inception, NAFUSA has
been rooted in personal relationships: the professional bonds formed inside U.S.
Attorney’s Offices, the respect for career prosecutors, and the shared understanding
that the strength of the federal justice system depends on the people who serve within
it.

Examples of NAFUSA members’ engagement with prosecutors in their former offices
include Peter Vaira, who started an organization for former AUSAs from the Eastern
District of Pennsylvania. The informal group invites AUSAs leaving office to join and
organizes and sponsors an annual cocktail party each year. The key function is to help
former AUSAs keep track of each other when they leave office and facilitate continued
relationships with former colleagues.

Also, NAFUSA board member Ken Weinstein shared a letter that former colleagues of
Bob Mueller from his time as an AUSA in the District of Columbia U.S. Attorney’s Office
Homicide Division drafted and posted on the website of the D.C. AUSA Association.
The letter is a morale booster and reinforces the importance of the work done by
AUSAs in that Division and how proud Mueller was of his service there.

Bob Mueller Letter

Robert B. Fiske Jr., Former U.S. Attorney and Whitewater Prosecutor, Dies at 94

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Robert (Bob) Bishop Fiske Jr., a longtime member of NAFUSA and respected trial lawyer, died on December 4, 2025, at his home in Darien, Connecticut. He was 94. Fiske served as United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York (1976 –1980) and later became the first prosecutor appointed to investigate the Whitewater matter. During his long legal career, he was also known for his success as a white collar defense counsel.

Fiske’s career spanned public service and private practice at the highest levels of the
American legal profession. Known for his composure, independence, and courtroom
skill, he earned a reputation as a prosecutor who pursued difficult cases with discipline
and fairness.

Fiske graduated from Yale University and the University of Michigan Law School. He
began his legal career at Davis Polk & Wardwell in 1955 before joining the United
States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York as an Assistant U.S.
Attorney from 1957 to 1961. He returned to that firm between holding positions with the
federal government.

In 1976, President Gerald Ford appointed Fiske as U.S. Attorney for the Southern
District of New York. In that role, he personally tried major organized crime, drug
trafficking, and corruption cases. He also became a mentor and close friend to Elkan
Abramowitz, his criminal division chief, and to Mary Jo White, a future U.S. Attorney
who had worked under him. White praised both his legal skill and his clear sense of
“what the right thing to do is.” Fiske served as Chair of the Attorney General’s Advisory
Committee during his tenure as U.S. Attorney.

Among Fiske’s best-known victories was the prosecution of Harlem drug trafficker Nicky
Barnes, widely known as “Mr. Untouchable,” whose conviction followed earlier failed
efforts to hold him accountable. Fiske also helped secure convictions in other prominent
organized crime and corruption matters, reinforcing his reputation as a meticulous and
determined courtroom lawyer.

In 1994, Attorney General Janet Reno appointed Fiske special prosecutor to examine
matters connected to Whitewater, the failed Arkansas land venture involving Bill and
Hillary Clinton before Bill Clinton became president. Although his tenure in that role was
brief, his appointment drew praise across party lines because of his reputation for
integrity and nonpartisanship.

Among other accolades and leadership roles, Fiske was a president of the American
College of Trial Lawyers and the Federal Bar Council. He believed in the value of
government service and established the Fiske Fellowship at the University of Michigan
Law School to support Michigan Law graduates pursuing careers in public service.

The Federal Bar Council held a celebration in New York City on June 22, 2026,
honoring his 70-year legal career.

Fiske is survived by his wife, Janet Tinsley, whom he married in 1954, and their children
Linda Fiske, Robert Fiske III and Susan Williams; five grandsons and one great-
grandson.

Former U.S. Attorneys To Discuss State AG Leadership at NAFUSA Conference

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At the NAFUSA conference in October, a panel featuring state attorneys general who
previously served as United States Attorneys will offer a cross-jurisdictional look at how
prosecutorial experience at the federal level can shape leadership in statewide office.
The discussion will include Drew Wrigley of North Dakota, Russell Coleman of the
Eastern District of Kentucky, and Peter Neronha of Rhode Island, and will be moderated
by current NAFUSA president and Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway.

The panel reflects a broad focus on the evolving role of prosecutors and public-law
leaders. The 2026 NAFUSA conference will be held in St. Louis, Missouri from October 14 to 16, bringing together former U.S. Attorneys for programming on federal practice,
Department of Justice policies, and current issues in law enforcement and public
service. Hanaway’s role as moderator underscores both her leadership within NAFUSA
and her own background as former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri and
managing partner at Husch Blackwell before becoming Missouri’s Attorney General.

What is especially notable about this panel is the shared career path of the participants.
Each panelist has moved from the federal prosecutor’s office to the top legal post in a
state, giving the discussion a practical perspective on how experience with federal
investigations, interagency coordination, and courtroom advocacy translates into the
responsibilities of an elected or appointed state attorney general. With NAFUSA
President Hanaway guiding the discussion in her home state, the conversation should
illustrate the close professional ties that continue through NAFUSA long after public
service in federal office ends. It reflects how former U.S. Attorneys continue to shape
public policy and legal strategy from influential state offices and the enduring
connections of the federal prosecutorial community.

Golf Opportunity at the 2026 NAFUSA Conference

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NAFUSA 2026 Annual Conference attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy a
memorable golf experience on Wednesday morning, October 14, 2026, prior to the
opening of the conference in St. Louis, Missouri this fall. NAFUSA has contracted with
The Courses at Forest Park for 24 slots in an 18-hole shotgun start tournament starting
at 7:30 a.m. on October 14 th. The Courses at Forest Park is a 27-hole golf facility
located in historic Forest Park just minutes from downtown St. Louis and 2.2 miles from the conference hotel – the Ritz Carlton. It is known for its scenic parkland setting and flexible course layouts and for providing an enjoyable experience for players of varying skill levels. Whether you are just looking to play a round, reconnect with colleagues, or make new connections in an informal setting, consider signing up for golf when conference registration opens later this summer.

Professor Andrea Katz to Speak at NAFUSA Conference

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Professor Andrea Katz, an Associate Professor of Law at the Washington University
School of Law in St. Louis, will present the annual Supreme Court review at NAFUSA’S
conference which will be held in St. Louis, Missouri on October 14-16. NAFUSA
conference attendees have come to expect a summary and analysis of recent Supreme
Court decisions presented by a highly qualified and interesting constitutional law expert,
and this year will be no different.

Professor Katz teaches and writes about constitutional law, with a particular focus on
presidential power, separation-of-powers theory, constitutionalism, and the development
of the modern administrative state. She received a Ph.D. in Political Science from Yale
University and a J.D. from Yale University Law School. She also holds a B.A. in
Comparative Literature and a B.A. in Japanese from Yale. After law school, she clerked
at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France and later clerked for
Judge Michael A. Ponsor in the District of Massachusetts. In addition to being a visiting
researcher at universities in Rio de Janeiro, San Paulo and Tokyo, she was a Golieb
Fellow in Legal History at NYU Law School before joining the Washington University
faculty in fall 2020.

Her scholarship and public commentary have examined questions of executive authority
and constitutional history, making her a notable speaker for a conference focused on
legal and public policy issues. Her work has appeared in the Columbia Law Review, the
Texas Law Review, the Harvard Law Review Forum and the International Journal of
Constitutional Law. Professor Katz’s presentation at the NAFUSA conference will be on
Friday, October 16.

NAFUSA Board of Directors Mid-Year Meeting in Scottsdale

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AZ

Members of the NAFUSA Board of Directors gathered for its mid-year meeting on April
11, 2026, at the beautiful Mountain Shadows Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona. The semi-
annual meeting brought together board members from across the country to review
organizational progress, discuss initiatives, and plan future activities. The setting in
Scottsdale provided an ideal backdrop for both productive sessions and informal
networking among the directors.

During the meeting, the Board addressed several important topics, including ongoing
planning for the 2026 Annual Conference in St. Louis, MO on October 14-16,
membership retention and growth, and upcoming events for the remainder of the year.
Committee reports included achievements on behalf of the NAFUSA Foundation to
provide scholarships for unpaid student interns and efforts to engage the Department of
Justice (EOUSA) with soliciting nominations for the 2026 Bradford Award. The Board
also discussed and voted on a slate of new directors and officers for the Class of 2029
which will be presented to the general membership at the conference in October for final
approval. The directors also reviewed financial reports and discussed budget priorities
to ensure the organization’s continued stability.

In addition to the formal agenda, the Scottsdale meeting offered opportunities for
directors to share insights and to get to know each other better in a social setting. The
Board is a very collegial group, committed to supporting NAFUSA and its members. If
you are interested in being a director in the future, please talk to a current board
member or the Executive Director for more information.

Interview with Johnny Sutton Featured in SEC Network Documentary

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NAFUSA member and former board member Johnny Sutton’s recollections of the memorable showdown between rival college baseball teams for the University of Texas and the University of Alabama were featured in the SEC Network’s documentary Summer of ‘83: Texas vs Tide. The documentary, which aired on April 15, revisited one of college baseball’s most memorable showdowns, spotlighting not just the rivalry between the Texas Longhorns and the Alabama Crimson Tide, but also the individuals who defined the series. Sutton was a player on the 1983 Texas Longhorns baseball team, and he is one of the people interviewed for the film reflecting on that memorable College World Series run.

Although Sutton may not have been one of the biggest stars and he didn’t pursue a career in the major leagues, like Roger Clemens, his story is part of the documentary’s narrative. Sutton played left field in the post season line-up and was named regional MVP as the Longhorns went on to win the college world series. The documentary captured pivotal moments both on and off the field, showcasing the team members during critical points in their journey to the College World Series and the determination that fueled their success. In the interviews featured in the documentary, Sutton reflected on the intensity of the matchup with Alabama, describing the pressure and excitement that surrounded the games.

Here is a link to the tralier:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1443684817251860