Reading Room Document
Federal Advisory Committee Act - applicability to ABA Committee on Federal Judiciary
The document discusses the applicability of the Federal Advisory Committee Act to the ABA Committee on Federal Judiciary. It presents the views of the ABA Committee and the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) on whether the ABA Committee is "utilized" by the Department of Justice, and concludes that the ABA Committee is indeed utilized by the Department for judgeship selection. The document also outlines the practical effects of coverage by the Act, such as the requirements for public notice, presence of federal employees, and open meetings, and suggests the possibility of seeking an amendment to exempt the Committee from coverage. The questions presented for review include the interpretation of "utilized," the effects of coverage by the Act, and the potential amendment of the Act.
The OLC's Opinions
Opinions published by the OLC, including those released in response to our FOIA lawsuit