Butler Snow has signed on as NAFUSA’s first 2018 sponsor and will host the opening reception at the 2018 NAFUSA conference on Wednesday, October 24, at their spectacular offices in The Pinnacle at Symphony Place. The firm has three NAFUSA members as partners. Shown below, left to right, Jim Letten (ED of Louisiana 2001-2012), James B. Tucker (SD Mississippi 2001-2001), and Edward L. Stanton (WD Tennessee 2010-2017). The three former U.S. Attorneys are part of the firm’s growing investigations, white collar practice and commercial litigation group, serving three separate offices and three separate federal districts. Jim Letten is in the Butler Snow New Orleans office, James Tucker in the Jackson, Mississippi office, and Edward Stanton in the Memphis office.
About Butler Snow
Butler Snow LLP is a full-service law firm with more than 350 attorneys and advisors collaborating across a network of 24 offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. Ranked as a leading firm for client relations and one of America’s Top 100 law firms in the BTI Power Rankings, Butler Snow is recognized as one of the nation’s top law firms for client service. The firm was recently ranked 48th out of 650 firms in the BTI Client Relationship Scorecard for understanding our client’s business, anticipating client’s needs, unprompted communication, legal skills, quality and keeping clients informed. For more information, visit www.butlersnow.com or follow Butler Snow on twitter @Butler_Snow.
NAFUSA recently learned that William (“Billy”) Adams Kimbrough Jr passed away on March 31, 2017, after a long illness. Billy served as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama from 1977 to 1981, in the Carter Administration. He was an early and active member of NAFUSA until failing health kept him away. He was born in Selma, and was a long time resident of Mobile. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Kay, his daughter, Mary Elizabeth, both of Mobile, his son Will (Jessica), and granddaughters Emma and Sadie, all of Nashville, his sister Ann Kimbrough, of Spanish Fort, his brother Judge Hardie B. Kimbrough (Deanna) of Thomasville, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Billy graduated from the University of the South (Sewanee) where he played football. He graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law and then served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney during the Kennedy Administration. After his service as U.S. Attorney, he joined the firm of Turner Onderdonk from which he retired in 2012. Billy loved living in Mobile, practicing law, playing golf, and participating in the political and civic life of the city. He was elected to the Alabama Democratic Executive Committee in 1966, and volunteered in many political campaigns. He especially enjoyed his work with the Greater Gulf State Fair, serving as president in 1967.
As is our tradition, at the request of NAFUSA, on November 28, the Department of Justice flew an American flag over Main Justice in Billy’s honor and NAFUSA will present it in a commemorative box to his family as a token of the regard with which he was held by his colleagues.
On October 18, 2017, Law Enforcement Leaders hosted the National Law Enforcement Summit on Crime in 2017, bringing together leading police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors, and attorneys general from across the country at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.
At the Summit, NAFUSA President Hal Hardin was asked to join a panel of prosecutors to discuss how to pursue cases without increasing unnecessary incarceration. Hardin, shown at the far right above, was joined (left to right) by Mark Holden, Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Koch Industries, Inc.; Cyrus Vance, New York County District Attorney; Michael Freeman, President of the National District Attorney’s Association and Hennepin County Attorney; and David La Bahn, President and CEO on the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced on November 13, 2017, the appointment of nine new U.S. Attorneys to serve two-year terms on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys (AGAC). AGAC was created in 1973 and reports to the Attorney General through the Deputy Attorney General. AGAC represents the U.S. Attorneys and provides advice and counsel to the Attorney General on matters of policy, procedure, and management impacting the Offices of the U.S. Attorneys.
“I am pleased to announce the first members of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee under this administration. These U.S. Attorneys will play an important role in carrying out the Department of Justice’s mission to reduce violent crime, combat transnational criminal organizations, secure our southern border, end the devastating opioid crisis, and return to the rule of law,” said Attorney General Sessions.
The Department’s press release contained the following brief bios on each nominee:
Richard Moore (Chair)
The Senate confirmed Richard Moore’s appointment as United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama in September 2017. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Moore served as the Inspector General for the Tennessee Valley Authority. From May 2009 to March 2011, Mr. Moore was the Chairman of the Investigations Committee for the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency. Prior to this position, Mr. Moore served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama from 1985 to 2003. From 1997 to 1998, Mr. Moore was an Atlantic Fellow in Public Policy at Oxford University in England. Mr. Moore received his B.S., summa cum laude, from Spring Hill College and his J.D. from the Samford University Cumberland School of Law.
John W. Huber (Vice Chair)
Since June 2015, John Huber has served as the United States Attorney for the District of Utah, and in August 2017, the Senate again confirmed his appointment. Prior to being United States Attorney, Mr. Huber served as an Assistant United States Attorney for thirteen years. Mr. Huber began his prosecutorial career in the Weber County (Utah) Attorney’s Office, and later served as the Chief Prosecutor for West Valley City, Utah, before joining the United States Attorney’s Office in 2002. Mr. Huber received his B.A. from the University of Utah and his J.D. from the University of Utah College of Law.
Justin E. Herdman
The Senate confirmed Justin Herdman’s appointment as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio in August 2017. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Herdman was a partner at Jones Day and an Assistant United States Attorney in Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Herdman previously served as an Assistant District Attorney in New York City from 2001 to 2005 and as an associate at Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, LLP. He is currently a Judge Advocate General in the United States Air Force Reserve. Mr. Herdman received his B.A. from Ohio University, his Master of Philosophy from the University of Glasgow and his J.D. from Harvard Law School.
Robert Higdon
The Senate confirmed Robert Higdon to be United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina in October 2017. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Higdon was a partner at the law firm of Williams Mullen. He previously served as an Assistant United States Attorney in both the Western and Eastern Districts of North Carolina. In the Eastern District U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Higdon served as Chief of the Criminal Division for more than 11 years. Mr. Higdon also served as senior trial counsel in the Public Integrity Section of the Department of Justice. He received his B.A., cum laude, from Wake Forest University and his J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law.
Jeff Jensen
The Senate confirmed Jeff Jensen to be United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri in October 2017. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Jensen was a partner at Husch Blackwell LLP. He served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Missouri starting in 1999, and was Executive United States Attorney from 2005 to 2009. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Jensen was an FBI Special Agent from 1989 to 1999. While working at the FBI, Mr. Jensen attended St. Louis University School of Law at night, graduating magna cum laude. He also received his B.A., cum laude, from Indiana University School of Business.
Jessie K. Liu
The Senate confirmed Jessie Liu to be United States Attorney for the District of Columbia in September 2017. Ms. Liu was previously Deputy General Counsel for the United States Department of the Treasury and a partner at the law firms of Morrison & Foerster LLP and Jenner & Block LLP. In addition, she has served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Columbia and in several senior positions in the United States Department of Justice, including as Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Rights Division, counsel to the Deputy Attorney General, and deputy chief of staff for the National Security Division. Ms. Liu clerked for then-Chief Judge Carolyn Dineen King of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. She received her A.B., summa cum laude, from Harvard University and her J.D. from Yale Law School.
Joshua Minkler
The Senate confirmed Joshua Minkler to be United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana in October 2017. Since June 2015, Mr. Minkler had served as the interim United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. Prior to that position, he served for 21 years as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of Indiana. Before he joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Minkler served for five years as an assistant prosecuting attorney in the Office of the Kent County Michigan Prosecuting Attorney. Mr. Minkler received his B.A. from Wabash College, and his J.D. from Indiana University Maurer School of Law.
Bryan Schroder
Bryan Schroder’s nomination to be United States Attorney for the District of Alaska is pending in the Senate. Mr. Schroder is currently the Acting United States Attorney for the District of Alaska, and previously served as the First Assistant United States Attorney and Criminal Chief. Mr. Schroder has served in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for more than 11 years. Mr. Schroder is a retired Captain in the U.S. Coast Guard, having served for 24 years. Mr. Schroder graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and the University of Washington School of Law.
R.Trent Shores
The Senate confirmed Robert Trent Shores to be United States Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma in September 2017. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Shores was an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Oklahoma. Mr. Shores previously served as First Assistant Attorney General for the State of Oklahoma and deputy director for the Department of Justice’s Office of Tribal Justice, where he developed initiatives to promote public safety in Indian Country. Mr. Shores received his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University and his J.D. from the University of Oklahoma College of Law.
Jenny Durkan at her election night party (Erica Schultz/The Seattle Times
CBS reported this morning that NAFUSA Board Member Jenny Durkan will win the race for Mayor of the City of Seattle. With 60 percent of the votes counted as of Tuesday night, Durkan had more than a 20 point lead in early returns.
Durkan served as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Washington (2009-2014) and will be the first female mayor in Seattle in 91 years.
NAFUSA board member and life member Greg Scott has been nominated by President Trump to serve as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of California, where he previously served from 2003 to 2009. Scott is currently a partner with the law firm of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP, where his practice focuses on white collar criminal defense and corporate investigations. From 1997 to 2003, he served as the elected district attorney of Shasta County, California. Scott served as a deputy district attorney from 1989 to 1997 in Contra Costa County, California. He retired from the United States Army Reserve as a lieutenant colonel after 23 years of service. Scott received his B.A. from Santa Clara University in 1985 and his J.D. from Hastings College of Law, University of California, in 1989.
Greg is shown in the photo above attending last month’s NAFUSA conference in Washington. Due to his nomination, Greg has submitted his resignation to the NAFUSA board. His vacancy in the class of 2018 will be filled by the board.
The total attendance at last weeks annual conference at The Mayflower Hotel in Washington was 227, including 147 NAFUSA members. It was the largest attendance in NAFUSA’s 38 year history. President Bart Daniel and his wife, Cindy, along with the planning committee, are to be commended on their efforts in organizing what many considered the best conference ever.
NAFUSA President Hal Hardin and Immediate Past President Bart Daniel
On Friday evening, Bart passed the gavel to Hal Hardin, who was elected NAFUSA’s newest president. Hal announced the 2018 conference will be held in Nashville on October 24-26. The following were elected officers for 2017-2018: Terry Flynn, president elect; Paul Coggins, vice president; Karen Hewitt, secretary; Chuck Stevens, treasurer, and Bart Daniel, immediate past president.
The NAFUSA board serves three year terms, and Bart thanked the class of 2017, whose terms have ended: Zach Carter, Ken Wainstein, Chuck Stevens, Bob Miller and Neil MacBride. The following were elected as the class of 2020: Ann Tompkins, Donna Bucella, Ken Wainstein, Paul Charlton, and John Richter.
Cindy and Bart Daniel with their grandchildren on the Jones Day rooftop
The conference opened on Wednesday evening with a reception, sponsored by Ernst & Young, on the Jones Day rooftop, perhaps the finest venue in D.C., with its commanding view of the Capitol.
Bradford Award presentation to Evan Norris
CLE programs began on Thursday morning. Following a welcome from Jessie Liu, the US Attorney for the District of Columbia and the traditional introduction of sponsors and the roundhouse introduction of members, the Bradford Award was presented to Evan Norris. Jack Selden led an outstanding panel on the False Claims Act, with Michael Granston, Jack Boese, Bill Nettles and Carmen Ortiz. NAFUSA members were then bused to DOJ for private meetings with DAG Rod Rosenstein, Associate AG Rachel Brand and Deputy EOUSA Director Norman Wong. Class reunions were held on Thursday evening.
Ted Olson, Neal Katyal, Paul Clement, Adam Liptak
The Friday CLE program began with ethics presentation moderated by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, and featuring the three DOJ “watchdogs” Michael Horowitz, Robin Ashton and Scott Schools. It was followed by an outstanding Supreme Court panel moderated by the Adam Liptak of the New York Times and featuring Ted Olson, Paul Clement and Neal Katyal. Liptak mentioned that he had served on many Supreme Court panels, but none with this firepower. The three advocates have together argued more than 180 cases before the court, and are scheduled to argue most of the important cases currently pending this term. The final panel of the morning was on the impact of social media, moderated by Jay Stephens, with Paula Hannaford-Agor, Judge Herbert Dixon, and Demian Ahn.
On Friday afternoon, all enjoyed a luncheon cruise of the Potomac River. The conference closed with a dinner on Friday night at The Mayflower, featuring keynote speaker DeMaurice Smith, Executive Director of the NFL Players’ Association.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions has appointed as his chief of staff NAFUSA member Matthew Whitaker, a former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Iowa (Southern District of Iowa, 2004-2009) during the George W. Bush administion. Whitaker replaces Jody Hunt, who was nominated to become assistant attorney general in charge of the department’s Civil Division.
In 2014, Whitaker, a former college football player, ran for Senate in Iowa, losing in the Republican primary to now-Sen. Joni Ernst. Ernst issued a statement praising Whitaker’s appointment, saying he is a strong leader, a patriot, and a “tireless advocate for the rule of law and the enforcement of our nation’s laws.”
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