Number: RS20081
Title: Justice Department Ethics: Legislative Activity in the 106th Congress
Authors: Charles Doyle, American Law Division 
Abstract: Three bills have been introduced in the Senate that focus on issues of federal prosecutorial ethics addressed in the Citizens Protection Act (McDade-Murtha) enacted as part of the omnibus appropriations package on October 21, 1998 (Section 801 of P.L. 106-277) and effective six months thereafter. The McDade-Murtha provision requires Justice Department litigators to abide by the ethical standards of the states and local federal courts where they conduct their activities. One of the bills, S. 755 (introduced by Senator Hatch), would have simply delayed the effective date of the McDade-Murtha provision an additional six months. The other two bills, S. 250 (also offered by Senator Hatch) and S. 855 (introduced by Senator Leahy), repeal McDade-Murtha. S. 855 replaces it with a call for a "no contact" standard applicable to Justice Department litigators and promulgated as an amendment to the federal rules of civil and criminal procedure. S. 250 permits the Attorney General to release Department litigators from otherwise applicable ethical standards that interfere with the effectuation of federal law or policy.
Pages: 5
Date: May 11, 1999