Nice! Among the most satisfying outdoor chores of the Spring.

Expect authority to make decision to rest above supervisors and for surviving probation to be exception not rule in short term. Even if they continue to lose the probationary firing cases, they’ll get many of those employees out this way. federalnewsnetwork.com/wp-content/u...

The stats about removing employees are interesting because I’d venture the majority of poor performers are not covered by this rule and, moreover, can simply allege “doesn’t like President Trump” to get their supervisor immediately terminated.

Finally, I always look for experienced attorneys who are talented and enjoy mentoring: they’re impactful. And be wary of any poor performers who are excited about mentoring: that’s usually where problems develop.

And personally it’s about trying to be as transparent as you can be with them. They’ll understand you can’t tell them everything, but want to believe there’s some logic to your decisions and that, in the right cases, you’ll listen to their input.

A red line has to be honesty. I’ve pulled someone off all cases when I caught them lying about something non-trivial. Decency to paralegals/court staff isn’t red line for young attorneys, it’s more yellow until I’ve ensured they’ve been mentored and haven’t changed.

I’ve never supervised more than five prosecutors, but I’ve tried to find/encourage people who have shown willingness to say “no” at least once to a boss. I ask in interviews about a time they disagreed with a leader: I want to understand whether they used it to start conversation about “why.”

My grandfather died of black lung before I was born. I’m told he was drunk almost every day of his life to deal with coal mines. All he wanted was his kids to go to college and get away.

Great grandfather died in a coal mine “paying back” the company for bringing him to America.

Feldman has never lived or worked in what most Americans would recognize as the “real world.”

Wow

District 1 is filled with Vets and military bases. Which means:
- high demand for VA services;
- schools that rely on payments for students of federal employees;
- massive local economic boost from defense industry.

By November, District 1 could be looking at $1B in economic impact lost.

Sorry “everyone” not “anyone.” The limitations on locations took out people serving in places most Americans didn’t know we were, but where the burn pit risks were just as severe.

The hard part about the PACT Act is that it didn’t capture anyone from the era who served near a burn pit. I spent 6 months within a mile of one and the VA hands me the info every time I go and I have to say “Yes, I know. But it doesn’t include me.”

Which goes to broader point about legislating.

This should be a reality show:

“Alive” but you’re put in a situation like this. Call it “Drive.”

The 1st has one of highest concentrations of military and veteran populations anywhere with multiple military installations. VA funding is big deal as is economic impact of threatened DOD cuts.

They seem like the people who join the military because they want the chance to kill someone without consequence or perhaps for glory, honor and praise.

It’s one of the scariest things I’ve seen because it drives home in a very real way that we’re dealing with people who truly cannot even feign empathy or compassion.

Makes you wonder if the TJAGs and Gen Brown opposed (or were expected to oppose) the invocation of the Alien Enemies Act… the Feb 21 firings put them at the point in timeline where they go from detaining to preparing deportations.

I’m confident none of them would’ve concurred with Act’s invocation.