June 2014

When you hear the term “Best Practices,” what comes to mind? Whatever comes to mind, the Department of Justice: Bureau of Justice Assistance wants to help shape those thoughts. They are so committed to government attorneys following the best practices possible, DOJ is funding “Best Practices” conferences and committees across the country. Utah has been invited to attend one RECENT CASES of these conferences in September to look at establishing a “Best Practices” committee here in Utah. Mark Thomas, Unitah County Attorney, and Ryan Robinson, Chief Prosecutor for West Valley City, will be attending, and I’m looking forward to the information they bring back to us. Kristine Hamann is a visiting fellow with DOJ and is tasked with implementing this program. She will be our keynote speaker at fall conference. One of the things she has begun to do is to send out regular e-mails containing “Articles of Interest” for government attorneys. The topics vary but contain valuable information on what other attorneys are doing, or not doing, as the case may be. You’ll start seeing those e-mails on occasion in the hopes that you can glean new ideas and ways of doing things as well as learning from the mistakes of others. The intent is clearly to make us better at our jobs.

Best,

Bob