Author Archives: Rich

Dick Thornburgh Dies, 88

Long time NAFUSA member Richard (Dick) Thornburgh passed away on Thursday morning, December 31, 2020. He was 88. President Ronald Reagan appointed Thornburgh to be the Attorney General of the United States in August 1988, and he was asked to stay on by President George H.W. Bush. He served as AG until 1991. Thornburgh also served as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania (1969-1975); Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division (1975-1977); Governor of Pennsylvania (1979-1987); and Under-Secretary on the United Nations (1992-1993)

Click here to view the news advisory from K&L Gates, where Dick began his private practice as an associate in 1959 and returned after his time in public service, until his retirement from the firm in early 2019. He is survived by his wife, Ginny, four sons, six grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. As is our custom, NAFUSA will request that an American flag be flown over Main Justice in Dick’s honor, and presented to his family as a token of the regard with which he was held by his colleagues.

One of NAFUSA’s founding members Victor Ortega writes:

Like everyone else I was saddened to learn of the passing of Dick Thornburgh.  As I explained at the San Francisco meeting, NAFUSA really had its origins in the first Attorney General’s Advisory Committee of United States Attorneys which was appointed by Attorney General Elliott Richardson.  Many of the founders of NAFUSA were members of that original Advisory Committee.  Dick Thornburgh was one of the original appointees to the Advisory Committee.  With his passing I believe there are only three of the original Advisory Committee members left, Ralph Guy, now a Senior Judge on the 6th Circuit, Bob Fiske and me. Ralph Guy was one of the founders of NAFUSA as well.  Dick Thornburgh was a contemporary, a friend and an outstanding public servant and we will miss him.

Another NAFUSA member, Chuck Rosenberg, shared this memory The first phone call.

Rosenberg Interviews Mueller on The Oath

NAFUSA member Chuck Rosenberg has kicked off Season 4 of his of his successful Podcast The Oath with an interview of another NAFUSA member, Bob Mueller. The first part of this two hour in depth program is now available and the second half will be broadcast at the end of Season 4.

Bob will not be discussing the details of his role as special prosecutor. He does, however, talk at some length about his life as a student athlete, Princeton graduate, a decorated Marine officer in Vietnam, a graduate of the University of Virginia Law School, and his distinguished career at Justice. He truly is an American hero.

Previous seasons of The Oath have featured other NAFUSA members, including Pat Fitzgerald, Joyce Vance, Preet Bharara, Barb McQuade, and Carol Lam, as well as Sally Yates and Jim Comey. (msnbc.com/theoath)

Federal Criminal Trials 2021 Edition

NAFUSA life member and past president Jim Cissell (SD Ohio 1978-1982) has released the 2021 edition of Federal Criminal Trials. Jim has been producing this single volume treatise for several years. NAFUSA member Joe Whitley (ND Georgia 1990-1993, MD Georgia 1981-1986) calls Jim’s book “an indispensable resource to getting quickly to the heart of highly complex federal criminal litigation issues.”

Jim has offered NAFUSA members a 20% discount. Attached for use by NAFUSA is a PDF file containing a promotional flyer that includes information about the purchase discount.

 

OFF04536-1_P60877 Fed Criminal Trials 2021 Ed_Author flyer_final

Mayorkas Picked for Homeland Security Secretary

Alejandro N. Mayorkas. J. Scott Applewhite/Associated Press

NAFUSA member Alejandro Mayorkas will be nominated by President Elect Joe Biden to become the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Mayorkas served as the deputy secretary of Homeland Security from 2013 to 2016 and the director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) from 2009-2013. He is currently a partner at WilmerHale.

“It is no small task to lead the Department of Homeland Security, but I will work to restore faith in our institutions, and protect our security here at home,” Mayorkas said in a tweet.

Cuban born, Mayorkas graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and Loyola Law School. He served as the United States Attorney for the Central District of California, 1998-2001. He has been recognized as one of the “50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America” by the National Law Journal.

Kimberly Budd Confirmed as Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Supreme Judicial Court Justice Kimberly Budd and Gov. Charlie Baker- Stuart Cahill/Pool

NAFUSA member Wayne Budd (Massachusetts 1989-1992) is the proud father of the newest chief justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Court. His daughter, Justice Kimberly Budd, was unanimously confirmed Wednesday, November 19, as the chief justice of Massachusetts’ highest court. She became the first Black woman to serve as chief justice. Her nomination was confirmed by a 7-0 vote of the Governor’s Council.

Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, who nominated Budd, called her “an exceptional and dignified jurist that has served on the Supreme Judicial Court with fairness and integrity.”

Budd, a former federal prosecutor, has served on the court since 2016. The Newton resident had previously served on the Massachusetts Superior Court.

Earlier in her career, she prosecuted cases in the major crimes and drug units as an assistant U.S. attorney in the District of Massachusetts in the mid 90s under then U.S. Attorney and NAFUSA past president Don Stern before going on to work in the general counsel’s office at Harvard University.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley described Budd as “a well-respected, thoughtful and dedicated public servant with a brilliant legal career.”

“As the first Black woman to lead the SJC in the court’s centuries-old history, I have every confidence that she will meet and exceed the history-making expectations her service on the Supreme Court brings,” Pressley said in a news release.

Chief Justice Budd with her dad

Proud “Papa” Budd, a past  NAFUSA board member, also served as the United States Associate Attorney General (1992-1993)  and is currently senior counsel at Goodwin Proctor LLP.

 

Former US Attorney Donn F. Baker Dies, 71

Donn F. Baker, age 71, died as a victim of Covid-19 on Thursday, November 12, 2020 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Donn served as the United States Attorney for the ED of Oklahoma (1984-1985). He joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 1982 and served as an AUSA until he became the U.S. Attorney. He had served as an Assistant District Attorney in Tahlequah before his federal service. After he left office, Donn went into private practice in Tahlequah, where he has practiced law for over 35 years and served as the City of Tahlequah Judge. Donn was recently inducted as a fellow into the American College of Trial Lawyers. He was described as a legend in northeastern Oklahoma. 

 

Donn is survived by his wife of 49 years, Sharon Greenhaw Baker, his son, Jeffrey Donn Baker, and daughter, Sherri K. Cometti. The funeral was held on November 16. As is our custom, at the request of NAFUSA, an American flag was flown over Main Justice and will be presented to his family as a token of the regard with which Donn was held by his colleagues.

Biden Transition Names Two NAFUSA Members to DOJ Review

Barbara McQuade

The Biden-Harris Transition announced their Agency Review Teams this week and two NAFUSA members were included on the 29 member Department of Justice Team. Former NAFUSA board member Neil MacBride (ED Virginia 2009-2013) and member Barb McQuade (ED Michigan 2010-2017) have been added to the DOJ team.

MacBride is currently a partner at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP and McQuade is teaching at the University of Michigan Law School. 

Long time NAFUSA member, former board member and past officer Doug Jones (ND Alabama 1997-2001) and former Acting Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates (US Attorney ND Georgia 2010-2015) are among the persons being seriously considered for Attorney General in the Biden Administration. Senator Jones unfortunately was not reelected to the Senate seat in Alabama. 

Neil MacBride

 

Former US Attorney James R. Williams Dies, 88

James R. Williams, who served as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio (1978-1982) passed away on Friday, November 6, 2020. He was 88. He also served as an Akron Municipal Court judge, a member of the Akron City Council, and Summit County’s first Black Common Please Court judge. He was a civil rights leader and an officer with the Akron and Ohio branches of the NAACP. Ebony magazine named Williams one of the 100 most influential Black Americans.

Williams was preceded in death by his first wife, Catherine. He is survived by his wife, Jewell Cardwell-Williams and two children, Michael and Jacqueline, and four grandchildren.

As is our custom, NAFUSA will arrange for an American flag to be flown over Main Justice in James’ honor as a token of the esteem with which he was held by his colleagues.

Read full obituary from the Akron Beacon Journal

 

 

 

Steve Easton Named President of Dickinson State University

Catching up with long time NAFUSA members, we found Stephen D. Easton (North Dakota 1990-1993) was named President of Dickinson State University in March of this year. He was selected by the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education as the 13th president of DSU. He had served as the University’s interim president since December, 2019.

Board Chair Nick Hacker said, “President Easton has proven that he can lead during difficult times and the Board has confidence that he can bring Dickinson State University to the next level to meet the new dual mission model that is certain to serve student and workforce needs now and into the future.”

During his interview, Easton talked about his leadership philosophy. “My dad, a DSU grad and longtime college administrator, taught me to put students first, whenever possible. Dickinson State is blessed with a staff and faculty dedicated to that philosophy. This unusual and challenging semester demonstrates their commitment to our students. It is inspiring to see DSU’s staff and faculty working overtime to continue the quality education of DSU’s wonderful students, even though we cannot meet with those students face-to-face in traditional classrooms the rest of the semester.”

Easton has a strong personal connection to Dickinson State University. Easton, who graduated summa cum laude from DSU in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Accounting, and a minor in political science, was the third generation of his family to choose Dickinson State. His son became the most recent Easton to graduate from DSU in 2016.

After earning his undergraduate degree at DSU, Easton enrolled in Stanford Law School where he earned his Juris Doctorate in 1983. Easton practiced law for almost 20 years before returning to higher education as a professor and administrator.

“It is a huge honor to be given the chance to continue to work with Dickinson State’s students, faculty, staff, and other supporters,” said Easton. “In my short time back, I have been very impressed by the can-do spirit of DSU. Right now, during a challenging semester for DSU and other colleges, DSU staff, faculty, and students are shining. Their creativity and hard work in transitioning to the temporary online learning environment are awe-inspiring. It is unfortunate that everyone does not have the opportunity I have to see that hard work and creativity. What a special place our beloved college on the hill is!”