Bush U.S. Attorney nominee CAN'T PRACTICE LAW.

[11 Bravo]

Former Congressman Rick White (R-Wash) has had his name submitted by the Bush administration to replace fired U.S. Attorney John McKay. There is, however, a problem. White's license to practice law was suspended by the Washington state Supreme Court in 2003. He was reinstated to the bar in 2005, yet continues on "inactive status" and remains unlicensed. So, let's see if I've got this straight. The administration which fired eight highly qualified attorneys with sterling job evaluations due to alleged "prosecutorial inefficiency" now proposes to replace one of them with an individual who would not be allowed to prosecute a fucking jaywalking citation! Yeah, that makes sense. Nothing political here.

[robinlynne]

1. nice!

[saltpoint]

2. Yep. No problem there at all.

And the Dodgers have just signed Barbara Walters for their starting 3rd base slot this season.

[Richard Steele]

3. Unsurprising. Recommended.

[MGKrebs]

4. Un-believable.

I found a link for it:

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/local/crime_courts/16929945.htm

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

5. Priceless! eom

[originalpckelly]

9. Yep, it's priceless, but it's also the smoking gun that shows it was not about performance.

This shit just keeps getting worse.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

12. I watched Schumer on MTP this morning and when Timmy kept trying to dig if this was all

political, Schumer kept coming back with how it wasn't political and how grave it was and that more and more info is coming to light. He also mentioned the outrage of Republicans on this too.
The big news is that Sampson is agreeing to appear before the Senate Committee without a subpoena!!!!

[11 Bravo]

8. Thanks for the link.

I read the story in the Washington Post, but couldn't fine it on their website. (I didn't even notice the Seattle Times byline.)

[originalpckelly]

6. Now, that's the fucking smoking gun. Obviously that shows...

it was not for performance! I'm glad you picked up on this! :woohoo:

[IWantAChange]

7. Makes perfect sense when you consider the Chimp's record for Incompetency.

[Skidmore]

10. What sort of a vetting process do they have at the WH?

Oh, yeah, I forgot to check campaign donations and his score on the * Loyalty Test.

Edited to ask if someone has passed this on to Schumer or Feinstien.

[Lobster Martini]

11. Correct me if my facts are wrong, but I think you may be missing the deviousness

See if this makes sense. If there's an open position, the Attorney General can appoint an interim prosecutor. (That's the provision that was snuck into the Patriot Act renewal.) Therefore, if the nominee can't possibly be confirmed, the interim prosecutor gets to stay in the office without Senate confirmation until another nominee is confirmed. This could continue indefinitely, or at least until the next President is sworn in. So you can appoint anyone an interim prosecutor, hold confirmation hearings for a sure loser, and blame the other party for rejecting the nomination.

Even if I'm wrong, this would be great film noir.

[northzax]

29. not really

under the Patriot Act, there is no need to confirm a replacement US Attorney, they serve the remainder of the standing 4 year term without Senato confirmation. It doesn't matter if he is not admitted to practice, there is no longer a confirmation process at all.

Under the old rules, the President had 120 days to get a USA confirmed, then the presiding Federal judge in the district appointed one for the remainder of the term.

[helderheid]

13. to the greatest with you

[tbyg52]

14. K,R,&bookmarked

Now if only the Corporate Media would notice... <sigh>

[tbyg52]

27. OMG!

Just heard it on ABC evening news!!!!

:wow:

[spindrifter]

15. It's not unusual for U.S. and other attorneys

practicing in federal court not to have a license to practice in state court. It's kind of stupid to give up a state bar card unless you don't think you will be going back to just state practice, however.

[11 Bravo]

16. You're correct on all points, but that's not my point.

I would submit that it is HIGHLY unusual to fire an attorney on the grounds of alleged inefficiency, and then offer as a replacement an individual who is not even licensed to practice the very law which he is being nominated to prosecute.

[spindrifter]

17. Remember who suggested White--

Dave Reichert.

[MGKrebs]

19. How to resolve this?

From the link above:

"To appear as a lawyer in federal court -- which U.S. attorneys regularly do -- White has to be a licensed lawyer in a state, have a local lawyer sponsor him, submit an application and be approved by a federal judge, said Janet Bubnis, the chief deputy clerk in the U.S. District Court for Western Washington."

[jelly]

20. Wait, I thought being licensed to practice in at least one state

was a prerequisite for being admitted to practice in the federal courts. I was first admitted to practice in Pennsylvania state courts after I passed the Bar. Then I applied to practice in the EDPA federal district court. IIRC being licensed to practice in good standing in at least one state was a prerequisite for admission to the EDPA.

Now, it is true that you do not have to be admitted to practice in every state in which you are admitted to practice in federal court.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

34. with one exception. You can

be licensed in DC and still practice in fed courts.

[Greyhound]

18. Sen. Leahy brought this up on Press the Meat this morning.

Of course, Timmy boy just ignored it.:eyes:

Edit: Or was it This Week with George? Face the Nation? Not enough difference to keep track anymore.:shrug:

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

21. I don't think "inactive status" means unlicensed

If he was reinstated to the bar, he is not unlicensed. He has a license, but it's not an activated license.

An attorney can request inactive status if they stop practicing law, but still retain the ability to go back to active status without taking the bar exam all over again. That's an option for many attorneys who have another profession, such as running a company, and it allows them to avoid the high annual bar fees and costly continuing education requirements. Usually, if an attorney is in voluntary inactive status, they can just pay the fee to go back to active status and comply with any continuing education requirements. In some jurisdictions it might require a judge's stamp and perhaps the sponsorship of one other active member of the same bar.

I would be more concerned with (1) whether this person practiced law or handled any legal matter while on inactive status and (2) why they were suspended in 2003. I looked at the Washington State Bar's website for Richard Alan White (Bar # 13683) and it does show he's on inactive status, but I also looked at his record of discipline at the same website and it shows zip. Are we confusing the fact he went on inactive status with the word "suspension"? They are not the same and an attorney can request inactive status and no adverse inference should be made if an attory no longer wants to be active. A voluntary request to go on inactive status is not the same thing, as some attorneys just retire, but don't want to give up their membership altogether. Suspension from the practice of law usually means involuntary inactive status forced upon them by the bar, probably as a way of disciplining the attorney for some transgression. Suspension is less than disbarment altogether, but it means disciplinary action against the attorney. If this truly involved a suspension because of something White did, then that could be far more serious to me than just his being on voluntary inactive status. If he merely requested to go on inactive status while he was serving in Congress, then I think it's no big deal.

[MGKrebs]

25. He apparently didn't pay his dues.

"White's license was suspended by the state Supreme Court in August 2003 for failing to pay his bar dues. He was reinstated to the bar in 2005 after paying a small fee, but he currently holds an "inactive" status."

"White said late Friday that he was working toward reactivating his status as an attorney in the state of Washington. He said he needs to complete about "20 to 30 hours" of Continuing Legal Education before he can reclaim his license."

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

28. If that's the case, it doesn't sound like a biggie to me

It's an embarrassment to the Bush Administration that they weren't even aware of his inactive status. But reactivation should be pretty easy. If Washington has an on-line continuing education of the bar program like they do in California, he should be able to comply with his CLE requirements in a matter of a few days, although it might be a little expensive.

[karlrschneider]

30. I would think it also reflects on him as well...shouldn't he have TOLD them

about his circumstances?

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

31. You're right - it doesn't reflect very well on him either

but then professional competency has seldom been a sought-after trait by the Bush administration.

[karlrschneider]

32. Well, maybe he's good with Arabian horses...

:silly:

Dammit! I should have read the whole thread, WillyT beat me to that by HOURS!

;-)

I am desiccated with mortification.

[Octafish]

22. Monkey once tried to get into UT Law School.

It was in 1970. Univesity of Texas Law said George W Bush wasn't qualified.
That must've added to monkey's many, many frustrations, insecurities and self-loathing.
So, he went on to work as a "management trainee" before applying, in 1973, to Harvard bidniss school.

His experience as a frustrated despot sheds light on why he constantly tries to one-up the press and everybody else.
His personal history also shows he is still unqualified to pick out an honest attorney general.

Stupidity, like corruption, starts at the top.

[ellenfl]

23. that might explain why dubya hates lawyers and judges. eom

[WillyT]

24. How Is He With Arabian Horses ???

:evilgrin:

[bobbolink]

26. Suggestion--Contact Local Wire Editor, get it into media!

If this hasn't been published in your local paper (whether large or small), I would suggestion calling the Wire Editor of that paper, giving them this link:
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/local/crime_courts/16929945.htm

and suggesting they print the article.

The Wire Editor is responsible for locating stories from other sources, and typically comes on duty later in the day.

I did this with the my local paper concerning the Downing Street documents, gave a British source, and it was in the paper the next morning!

Of course, a LTTE is also a good idea, but I also suggest contacting the Wire Editor, and at least giving it a try.

Thanks for bringing this to light! :hi:

[Manifestor_of_Light]

33. Goddamnit!

Hell, I have a law degree I wasted five years in night school on.

That doctorate and $2 gets me a cup of coffee.

Never got a license, but why doesn't somebody offer me a nice cushy job???

I just don't know the right people and I have scruples.

[Perky]

35. This is not audacity it is gross political incompetance.

No one checked this out? He did not volunterr the information?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

This shows you how imcopeant Gonzo and his boys are. This will royal piss off four or five more republicans. Goonzo may be gone today if this is true.

[wicket]

36. Mmmmmm....popcorn

:popcorn:

[underpants]

37. "practice" law? Hell son he's perfected it!!

Don't you know all them boys ole George has around him are the best of the best. Hell they's all rich so they must know what they's talking 'bout!

[flamin lib]

38. .