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EFF Hires Director Of Civil Liberties
by Heather Greenfield
The Electronic Frontier Foundation has released evidence that computer crime attorney Jennifer Stisa Granick has joined EFF as its new civil liberties director. Granick will be working on government surveillance, Fourth Amendment, computer security, and computer crime issues.
Granick previously was executive director at Stanford University's Center for Internet and Society, as well as director of the cyber law clinic. Before working at Stanford, Granick spent almost a decade practicing criminal defense law, focusing on hacker defense and the interaction of free speech, privacy, law and technology.
Granick was selected by Information Security magazine in 2003 as one of 20 "Women of Vision" in the computer security field.
"EFF plays a critical role in the battle to protect freedom and privacy as new technologies transform our lives, and I'm thrilled to be a part of this important work," Granick said. "I'm especially looking forward to protecting privacy rights in digital communications technologies, creating standards for how new technologies are used in national security and law enforcement investigations and promoting network privacy by working with security researchers."
"EFF has long wanted to expand into criminal defense work, and Jennifer is the best there is," Legal Director Cindy Cohn said. "It's time to take a deeper look at how technologies are being used in criminal and national security prosecutions. We're all very excited about adding this new depth to our work."
Marcia Hofmann, meanwhile, is leaving EFF as a staff attorney in its Washington office, but it's just a geographic move. She will retain her title and issues while working from San Francisco.
Hofmann concentrates primarily on Freedom of Information Act litigation involving civil liberties and technology. Before joining EFF, she was a staff counsel and director of the Open Government Project at the Electronic Privacy Information Center.
The Revolving Door On Capitol Hill
The legislative director for the fourth-highest-ranking House Democrat is leaving to become director of government relations for the Information Technology Industry Council.
Jonathan Hoganson was hired away from the office of Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel, where he has served as legislative director since 2005 and as legislative assistant from 2002 to 2005. He also served as policy director for the House Democratic Caucus this year. In that capacity, Hoganson was the primary policy adviser to the caucus chairman, working with committee staff and other leadership offices to develop the legislative agenda and floor strategy.
With many senior Democratic staffers deciding to remain in their jobs after the Democratic takeover of Congress this year, ITI is celebrating having gained someone with his political ties. "We're definitely happy to have him over here and contributing to us being one of the best lobbying teams in the city," ITI lobbyist Ralph Hellman said.
Emanuel serves on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. One of Hoganson's first assignments will be to follow tax issues, including the research and development tax credit.
On the Hill, meanwhile, Alexa Marrero will be the new communications director for House Education and Labor Committee ranking Republican Howard (Buck) McKeon of California.
Marrero is no stranger to the committee, having previously served on the staff of the Education and the Workforce Committee from 2002 to 2006 under then-Chairman John Boehner, R-Ohio. During her brief time off the Hill, she was vice president of communications and industry relations for the Education Finance Council.
"I am very pleased to have Alexa returning to our talented staff," McKeon said. "Her extensive background with the issues and objectives of this committee will prove to be invaluable in the months and years to come."
Marrero will replace Steve Forde, who now serves as deputy communications director for Boehner in the office of Republican leader.
A New Legal Enterprise At AEI
The American Enterprise Institute has announced its own enterprise -- a merger with the National Legal Center for the Public Interest. AEI president Christopher DeMuth said the pair will form a new research division named the AEI Legal Center for the Public Interest.
Ted Frank will direct the division. Frank has been director of the AEI Liability Project for the past two years. He clerked for Judge Frank Easterbrook, who is now chief judge for the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Before working at AEI, Frank was an attorney with Kirkland & Ellis and O'Melveny & Myers in Washington.
He also writes AEI's Liability Outlook and is a frequent contributor to several national publications and Web sites, including The Wall Street Journal and PointofLaw.com.
The National Legal Center for the Public Interest was founded in 1975 to promote knowledge about law and the administration of justice, especially with respect to individual rights, free enterprise, property ownership, limited government, and a fair and efficient judiciary. AEI has conducted similar work for decades. Its research staff has included eminent legal scholars such as Robert Bork, Robert Goldwin and Antonin Scalia, now a Supreme Court justice.
Recognizing Civil And Online Political Service
Konrad Lehnert, a physicist at JILA, formerly known as the Joint Institute For Laboratory Astrophysics, is a finalist for the 2007 Service to America medals. The annual award from the Partnership for Public Service celebrates excellence in the federal civil service.
Lehnert is among five finalists in the "Call to Service" category, which recognizes professional achievements that "reflect the important contributions that a new generation brings to public service." Lehnert, who is just 36, conducted groundbreaking research to use quantum mechanics to improve measurement science.
The finalists will be announced next month and honored at an awards ceremony in Washington.
JILA is a joint institute of the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the University of Colorado at Boulder.
PoliticsOnline, meanwhile, is looking for people who are most changing the e-politics field. The online publication and the World E-Gov Forum are asking for nominations and online votes for the Top 10 Who Are Changing the World of Internet and Politics.
For the past seven years, PoliticsOnline subscribers and visitors from around the world have helped identify the top 10 individuals, organizations and companies having the greatest impact on the way the Internet is changing politics. The winners will be invited as honored guests to the World E-Gov forum Oct. 3-4 in Paris.
Quote Of The Week
"It's unfortunate that they're concentrating on the headlines instead of the facts of the ad. We stand by every single fact and we challenge [critics] to refute those facts."
-- MoveOn spokeswoman Nita Chaudhary, responding to critics of the group's New York Times ad that suggested Army Gen. David Petraeus, the U.S. commander in Iraq, has betrayed the country.
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