As the DC conference came to a close last Saturday evening, newly installed President Don Stern told the audience that “he could not promise to beat the effort” of outgoing President Jay Stephens, but he promised to “match it” next year in Boston. In the photo above, Stern is handing Stephens a parting gift for his year of outstanding service: a 150 year old antique spy glass.

Stephens led a conference planning committee consisting of Kent Alexander, Jeff Taylor, Sharon Zealey, Ken Wainstein and Rich Rossman, who put together a well received program, capped by the keyote address by Pete Williams, of NBC, shown above. Other highlights included five outsanding panels: “Navigating the  False Claims Act”, “National Security and Surveillance”, “Counter-terrorism, National Security and the Law”, “Criminal Disclosure Ethics” and “Supreme Court Issues.” In addition, all NAFUSA members were invited to spend Friday afternoon at the Department of Justice to meet with DAG Jim Cole, FBI Director Jim Comey, Associate AG Tony West and the leaders of the US Attorney community: Marshall Jarrett, Loretta Lynch and David Margolis. [It was hoped that we would be able to post the photo that DOJ took of the NAFUSA members assembled in the courtyard of Main Justice, but the shutdown has made the photographer unavailable.] A full list of the conference speakers can be found on the NAFUSA website under the link for “conferences.”

Among the highlights of the conference were the Friday night “reunion” dinners. Bill Lutz was able to obtain an invitation from Justice Alito, who served as the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, to have the Reagan-Bush I US Attorneys dine at the Supreme Court. The Justice is shown above with Jay and Julie Stephens. Below is a photo of the entire US Attorney group with the Justice.

The Carter alums also held an alumni dinner and invited former Attorney Genral Ben Civiletti and his wife. In addition, Ninth Circuit Judge Mike Hawkins, who flew in just for Friday night, attended, as did Marti Robinson, wife of the late Jim Robinson. The Carter group graciously invited some of the more senior members who, although not Carter US Attorneys, had no other class reunions to attend. The Carter group and friends are shown below.

Donald K. Stern, shown below, was elected to serve as NAFUSA president until the next conference in Boston on Columbus Day weekend, October 9-11, 2014, at the Fairmont Copley Plaza. The new slate of officers elected were: President Elect Matt Orwig, Vice President Greg Vega, Secretary Bart Daniel, Treasurer Doug Jones and Immediate Past President Jay Stephens.

The board members elected to serve a three year term were Alice Martin, Catherine Hanaway, Kevin O’Connor, Hal Hardin and Bob Cleary. Zach Carter was elected to fill a vacancy in the class of 2014 caused by Doug Jones moving into the chairs.

In addition to the 2014 conference being held in Boston, the 2015 conference will be in Scotsdale and the 2016 conference in San Diego.

NAFUSA retained a professional photographer to depict the events of the conference, and many photos will soon be posted on the website along with photos from past conferences.

Finally a word about our sponsors. NAFUSA raised $97,500 in sponsor contribuitons this year, by far a new record. A full list can be found on this page. The conference would not have been possible without this support. Our sponsors deserve a “shout out” as well as our business!