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.
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.
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!”
Jessie Liu is NAFUSA’s newest member. Skadden has also announced that she has joined the firm’s Washington, D.C. litigation practice. Ms. Liu’s practice will encompass white collar and government enforcement matters, including defending government investigations and conducting internal investigations; representing companies and individuals in connection with complex civil litigation, particularly in government-facing civil litigation; and providing crisis-management counseling.
In 2017, Ms. Liu was unanimously confirmed by the Senate to serve as U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. In that position, she led the largest U.S. Attorney’s Office in the country, which employs more than 350 assistant U.S. attorneys. As U.S. attorney, she supervised criminal and civil litigation in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, Superior Court of the District of Columbia and District of Columbia Court of Appeals. She also served from 2017 to 2020 on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee, a small group of U.S. attorneys who advise the attorney general and deputy attorney general on issues affecting the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, including as chair of the committee from 2019 to 2020. In 2107, she welcomed NAFUSA members to Washington, DC at the opening of the Annual Conference. She also spoke in San Francisco at the 2019 Annual Conference in her role as then Chair of the AGAC.
Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Ms. Liu was deputy general counsel for the U.S. Department of the Treasury (2017). In that role, she provided legal and policy advice to the Treasury secretary and other senior department officials, with a focus on national security, law enforcement and international issues, such as economic and trade sanctions, anti-money laundering efforts, and national security reviews of foreign acquisitions of U.S. businesses by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. Between 2006 and 2009, Ms. Liu served in various roles within the U.S. Department of Justice, including as deputy assistant attorney general in the Civil Rights Division, counsel to the deputy attorney general for national security issues, and deputy chief of staff for the National Security Division. From 2002 to 2006, she was an assistant United States attorney in the District of Columbia.
“Jessie’s extensive experience in public service as well as in private practice will be of tremendous value to our clients. Her track record of handling significant enforcement matters in the past two decades will make her an excellent addition to our litigation practice,” said Jessica Hough, leader of Skadden’s Washington, D.C. office.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jessie to Skadden, where she joins a roster of other former prosecutors who counsel our clients in their most high-profile government enforcement and crisis issues,” said David Meister, leader of Skadden’s New York government enforcement and white collar practice. “Her government experience will be extremely valuable.”
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to join such an impressive group of attorneys, and look forward to working with them to best utilize my skills and experience on behalf of firm clients,” Ms. Liu said.
Ms. Liu has worked as a partner in the white collar defense practices at other major law firms, and she began her legal career in 1998 as a law clerk for then-Chief Judge Carolyn Dineen King of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. She has been recognized nationally by Chambers USA, as a White Collar Trailblazer by The National Law Journal and among the Top 100 Women in Investigations by Global Investigations Review. She is a member of The American Law Institute and the National Association of Former United States Attorneys. She also serves on the executive committee of the Edward Bennett Williams Inn of Court and the board of the Historical Society of the District of Columbia Circuit. A graduate of Yale Law School, Ms. Liu earned her undergraduate degree from Harvard University.
On April 18, the NAFUSA board of directors decided to postpone the 2020 annual conference scheduled for New York City on September 30-October 2. The board’s vote was unanimous. The board also agreed unanimously to recommend to the membership at large that the current slate of officers and directors be frozen through the annual conference in 2021.
On August 27, 2020, all active NAFUSA members were sent an email ballot to cast their votes regarding three Covid-19 related issues.The August vote was intended to have the membership at large vote to approve or disapprove these actions. The voting ended on September 10, 2020, and the results are listed below.
Question 1. 120 NAFUSA members voted, 119 “yes” and 1 “no.”
Due to the complications caused by the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020, I approve the postponement of the 2020 annual NAFUSA conference, which was scheduled for New York City on September 30-October 2, to a date in 2021 considered by the NAFUSA board of directors, in their sole discretion, to be safe for travel and meeting in a large group.
Question 2. 120 NAFUSA members voted, 120 “yes” and 0 “no.”
I approve extending the terms of the current incumbent officers and directors until the adjournment of the annual conference in 2021, unless the membership takes further action to the contrary .
Question 3. 120 NAFUSA members voted, 120 “yes” and 0 “no”.
I certify that I am an active member of NAFUSA and waive any additional notice that may be required for these actions.
The NAFUSA officers and board members appreciate the support of the membership at large during these difficult times. They remain hopeful that we can return to normal times in 2021.
NAFUSA member Frederick W. Thieman (WDPA 1993-1997), who served as President of the Buhl Foundation, Pittsburgh’s oldest multi-purpose foundation, since 2007, has returned to the practice of law with a new office focused on arbitration and mediation of complex commercial matters, multi-party litigation, fraud and white collar crime related matters, and large scale community tensions. For more information, see www.thiemanlegal.com.
Fred also was the recipient of Pittsburgh’s Academy of Trial Lawyers ’“Joseph M Weis Jr. Distinguished Service Award” for substantial contributions to the judicial system and legal profession.
NAFUSA member David Iglesias found out by accident recently that his 5.5 years of DOJ service, plus one year of White House Fellowship entitled him to a small retirement income at age 62. David wondered if other NAFUSA members may have forgotten about this benefit.
Here is what he learned from his former administrative officer:
“As long as he did not take a refund for his retirement contributions and he has at least five years of creditable service, he can apply for deferred retirement at age 62. He should complete the application 60 days prior to his 62nd birthday if possible.”
NAFUSA member Don Washington (WD Louisiana 2001-2010) was elected treasurer of NAFUSA in 2018. He stepped down early in his term when he was appointed by President Trump to serve as the director of the United States Marshal Service. He was confirmed by the Senate on March 14, 2019.
On July 29, 2020, Director Washington was interviewed by Fox News regarding the role of the Marshals in Portland, Oregon during the current protests at the federal courthouse. He explains that the role of the Marshal Service since 1789 has been to protect the Article III judicial function. He says his job is to see that peaceful protesters are protected and that federal law is enforced.
CAFE Studios announced on July 15, 2020, the launch of the United Security podcast, co-hosted by former top White House advisers Ken Wainstein and Lisa Monaco. Ken is the current secretary of NAFUSA. CAFE Studios is a media venture “dedicated to better informing the public about the most critical issues of our time by exploring how law and justice intersect with politics, security, technology and ultimately, every aspect of our society.” It was co-founded by NAFUSA member Preet Bharara.
The announcement describes how United Security will operate:
Every two weeks, Lisa and Ken will break down politically-charged national security issues making the headlines and give listeners a window into the debates and the decision-making in the Oval Office.
Lisa and Ken, who served at the highest levels of government throughout their distinguished careers, have followed a strikingly similar path. Most recently, they were Homeland Security advisers to Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, respectively. They both led the Justice Department’s National Security Division, served as Chief of Staff to Robert Mueller at the FBI, and spent their early career at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
In the inaugural episode, “Bounties, Bolton, and COVID-19,” Lisa and Ken make sense of reports of a Russian bounty program targeting American troops in Afghanistan, the questions and concerns raised by the publication of John Bolton’s book, and the latest on the resurgence of the Coronavirus. The second episode will be broadcast on Friday, July 24, 2020.
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