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National Security Prosecutions

Post by Anonymous User » Thu Sep 10, 2020 10:37 am

Hi, I'm interested in prosecuting national security cases. What are the best offices to do it in? Thinking SDNY/EDNY/EDVA, maybe CDCA? What about Main NSD? Are there differences in what kind of cases go where? What are the reputations of each office for national security? Thanks!

mdaoca

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Re: National Security Prosecutions

Post by mdaoca » Thu Sep 10, 2020 3:28 pm

This is just based on my impressions, but I'd say:
1) SDNY will always get glamorous cases. But, it's interesting that they don't have a formal national security unit, just international drugs and terrorism. They've also taken some high profile losses.
2) EDVA seems to have consistently the most pure "national security" cases, like espionage at intelligence agencies, etc. Reputation is every bit as good as SDNY's within the legal community. Lots of excellent, career prosecutors mixed with young aggressive types.
3) EDNY actually seems more active in this world than SDNY. EDNY, like EDVA, has the benefit of more career prosecutors than SDNY, but I've heard from people there that the atmosphere is a bit toxic.
4) Main you'll get to work on all the big cases, but not as the lead. You'll get specialized, subject matter expertise, but probably in court less and a bit more of a bureaucratic vibe.
Other big USAOs will get cases from time to time, but these are probably the big 3 for nat sec.

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Re: National Security Prosecutions

Post by Anonymous User » Thu Sep 10, 2020 3:51 pm

Took a National Security Law class in law school taught by a federal judge who used to prosecute national security crimes, and from his personal anecdotes and conversations, can echo the above. Seems like the two main offices are SDNY and EDVA, and there is even competition between them for the high-profile nat’l security cases.

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