"Kroger's choice turns heads in Salem"
The Daily Astorian writes about John:
There is more than one reason that President-elect Barack Obama seems to be a whirlwind of activity - moving from economic stimulus strategies to Iraq and Afghanistan strategies to a global warming discussion with Al Gore. The challenges facing Obama are profound, and that's one reason why we notice his activity. But he's also a vivid figure because for eight years our sitting president has largely ignored the big challenges facing the nation.
In a similar vein, Oregon's Attorney General-elect John Kroger appears larger-than-life...
Kroger's Monday announcement that Brent Foster will be his special counsel on the environment turned heads around the state and especially in Clatsop County.
EW: Ecocrimes, New AG plans to crack down
This week's Eugene Weekly writes on John's plans to hold every polluter accountable for the damage they cause to our health and environment.
Critics have called Oregon’s prosecution [of environmental crimes] (or lack of it) pathetic, but there’s a new sheriff in town, and he says he’s going to put his foot down on environmental crimes. Oregon’s next attorney general, John Kroger, takes office in January. He says he’s ready to go after polluters “with a tough new approach to environmental enforcement.” ...
[H]is main plan is to hire “two prosecutors, an investigator and some support staff,” all dedicated to environmental enforcement, he says. “They’ll prosecute crimes against the environment all over the state,” Kroger says, “and we think that will make a huge difference.”
He estimates that this will cost, in a ballpark figure, about $500,000 a year. This is, he says, “very small cost” compared to the Oregon Department of Justice’s $300 million a year biennial budget. He also says that it will save money on the civil enforcement side. “Companies understand that they may be charged with a crime, not just hit with a fine; they’re going to be much more eager to comply,” he says.
Wood agrees, “Polluters will pollute without the possibility of enforcement.”
Environmental lawyers like Riskedahl are looking forward to Kroger’s plans to crack down on ecocriminals. Riskedahl says, “The costs of pollution are borne by all Oregonians.” He says that Kroger will be “holding people accountable and requiring them to comply with the law out of a fundamental sense of fairness.”
John to appoint David Leith Associate AG
Oregon Attorney General-elect John Kroger announced today that he will appoint David Leith to be Associate Attorney General, filling the number three position at the Oregon Department of Justice.
Leith, who currently serves as the Attorney-in-Charge of the Special Litigation Unit, will become Associate Attorney General when Kroger takes office on January 5, 2009. He will report to Kroger and incoming Deputy Attorney General Mary Williams, whose appointment was announced last week. In this position, Leith will advise Kroger and Williams on all areas of Oregon law, with special emphasis on fundamental legal and policy issues that cut across multiple divisions of the Department of Justice.
"I am thrilled David Leith has accepted this new appointment. He has earned a reputation as a brilliant lawyer. I am sure he will serve Oregon well," Kroger said.
David Leith joined the Oregon Department of Justice in 1994 and has practiced in the Trial, Appellate, and General Counsel Divisions. Since 1998, he has practiced in the Special Litigation Unit, where he has been Attorney in Charge since 2005. He has successfully handled many of the State's most sensitive, complicated, and high-profile cases. Leith is a graduate of Whitman College and the University of Oregon School of Law, where he graduated 6th in his class. Following law school, Leith clerked at the Oregon Court of Appeals for Judge John Buttler and Judge (subsequently Justice) Susan Leeson.
John to appoint Mary Williams Deputy AG
Oregon Attorney General-elect John Kroger announced today that he will appoint Mary Williams Deputy Attorney General of the Oregon Department of Justice. Williams, who currently serves as Solicitor General at the Oregon Department of Justice, will become Deputy when Kroger takes office on January 5, 2009. Williams will also serve as director of Kroger’s transition team.
Williams has served with distinction in the Department since 1991, working in the General Counsel and Appellate divisions. As Solicitor General, she is the state’s top appellate lawyer. In that role, she has argued before the United States Supreme Court on three occasions. She is a graduate of Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland.
“Mary has earned a reputation for skilled advocacy and as a talented manager and administrator. She also received the very highest recommendation from the most important source: Attorney General Hardy Myers. I am very honored that Mary has agreed to serve in this capacity. I know she will provide excellent counsel to me, to our lawyers, to our clients, and to the citizens of the state of Oregon.”
“I am certain Mary Williams will be a truly outstanding Deputy and a worthy successor to Peter Shepherd,” said Attorney General Hardy Myers. “I congratulate Attorney General-elect John Kroger on his decision.”
Kroger, who won both the Democratic and Republican nominations, was elected Attorney General on November 4, winning more than 1 million votes and every county in the state.
