Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Law Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 5 of 5

Full-Text Articles in Law

The U.S. Attorney Firings Of 2006: Main Justice's Centralization Efforts In Historical Context, James Eisenstein Jan 2007

The U.S. Attorney Firings Of 2006: Main Justice's Centralization Efforts In Historical Context, James Eisenstein

Seattle University Law Review

The media, the political establishment, and the federal criminal jus-community's focus on the compelling story of the firings is hardly surprising. The details emerged over a period of many months through leaks, internal Department of Justice (DOJ) emails, press releases, interviews, and dramatic congressional testimony. The media's focus on the firings obscured their deeper significance with regard to the nature of the relations between the DOJ and its ninety-three United States Attorneys' Offices (USAOs). This Article addresses this omission by looking at the consequences of these events for the balance struck between central control by Main Justice in Washington and …


Train Wreck At The Justice Department: An Eyewitness Account, John Mckay Jan 2007

Train Wreck At The Justice Department: An Eyewitness Account, John Mckay

Seattle University Law Review

In a series of early morning phone calls on December 7, 2006, seven United States Attorneys were ordered to resign. Despite initial denials, it would later be revealed that two other U.S. Attorneys had also been ordered to submit their resignations, bringing the total number to nine. Each was given no explanation for the dismissal and most were led to believe that they alone were being dismissed, raising the specter of unstated wrongdoing and encouraging silent departures. Those dismissed uniformly cited the maxim that they "served at the pleasure of the President" and most sought to avoid publicly disputing the …


Beyond Chevron'S Domain: Agency Interpretations Of Statutory Procedural Provisions, Melissa M. Berry Jan 2007

Beyond Chevron'S Domain: Agency Interpretations Of Statutory Procedural Provisions, Melissa M. Berry

Seattle University Law Review

Part II of the Article outlines the procedures required by the APA for agency adjudications. Part III discusses the three primary approaches that courts have followed to determine what triggers formal adjudicatory procedures and introduces the Chevron doctrine. Part IV examines how courts review agency interpretations of statutory provisions under Chevron and its progeny and explores two issues on the fringes of Chevron's domain-interpretations of agency jurisdiction and judicial review provisions-and the concerns that they raise. Next, using lessons from these analogous issues, Part V analyzes similar concerns about congressional intent, institutional competency, agency self-interest, and fairness in the …


Hipaa Hypocrisy And The Case For Enforcing Federal Privacy Standards Under State Law, Daniel J. Oates Jan 2007

Hipaa Hypocrisy And The Case For Enforcing Federal Privacy Standards Under State Law, Daniel J. Oates

Seattle University Law Review

Part II of this Comment summarizes the background of the HIPAA statute as an attempted solution to the privacy problem described above, including its legislative history and HHS promulgation of administrative rules. Next, Part III addresses the agency-imposed limitations on the scope of the statute. The Secretary's decision to rely solely on an administrative complaint process, combined with the government's narrow interpretation of the statute granting third parties immunity from penalties, has undermined enforcement of the privacy provision. Accordingly, Part IV discusses previous attempts to circumvent the administrative limitations by creating a private right of action and the reasons these …


The Constitutional And Statutory Framework Organizing The Office Of The United States Attorney, Christian M. Halliburton Jan 2007

The Constitutional And Statutory Framework Organizing The Office Of The United States Attorney, Christian M. Halliburton

Seattle University Law Review

The U.S. Attorney position is one characterized by a broad delegation of the duty to enforce the laws of the United States, and to appear on behalf of the government in any civil action involving the United States or its revenues. This delegation of duties necessarily entails the exercise of discretion, and that exercise of discretion necessarily depends on the United States Attorneys' independence of judgment. The U.S. Attorney can thus be described as an agent with multiple principles, or a servant of two masters: the U.S. Attorneys clearly serve at the "pleasure" of the President, must be responsive to …