John Kroger Runs for Attorney General
John Kroger, a Professor at Lewis and Clark Law School and a former federal prosecutor, announced today that he will run for Oregon Attorney General. An announcement schedule is posted JohnKroger.com.
From a Kroger press release:
Former federal prosecutor and Lewis & Clark Law School professor John Kroger will announce his candidacy for Oregon Attorney General on Thursday, Sept. 20, at press conferences in Portland, Eugene, and Medford. He will continue his announcement tour of the state on Friday, Sept. 21 with appearances in Klamath Falls and Bend.John Kroger is an award-winning criminal prosecutor and law professor. As a federal prosecutor, Kroger won major trials against mafia killers, corrupt government officials, and drug kingpins. From 2002 to 2003, he helped prosecute the now-defunct Enron Corporation. In recognition of his work, Kroger won awards and commendations from Attorney General Janet Reno, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the State Department. Kroger previously served in the United States Marine Corps. Kroger has long been active in the Democratic Party and served as a campaign aide to President Bill Clinton.
In Portland, Kroger will be introduced and endorsed by City Commissioners Randy Leonard and Erik Sten. Leonard said: “John Kroger has demonstrated his commitment to go after large businesses that violate the law. Oregon needs John Kroger to be the next Attorney General because of his proven record of standing up for consumers.” John will also announce the endorsement of City Commissioner Dan Saltzman, who is unable to attend.
Kroger is also announcing his endorsement by four Oregon District Attorneys: John Foote of Clackamas County, Ed Caleb of Klamath County, Dean Gushwa of Umatilla County, and Tim Thompson of Union County.
The announcement follows Rep. Greg Macpherson, who announced his candidacy last month.
More updates as they come.
Discuss.
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Sept. 20, 2007
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Sep 20, '07
I look forward to hearing Kroger speak on Oregon issues. So far it seems to be "friends of Kroger want you to support their friend the former federal prosecutor".
Also, he apparently has lots of friends in Portland. It will be interesting to see who supports him in the rest of the state.
11:14 a.m.
Sep 20, '07
LT, be sure to read the full quote. His endorsements include:
John Foote of Clackamas County, Ed Caleb of Klamath County, Dean Gushwa of Umatilla County, and Tim Thompson of Union County.
Sep 20, '07
There are plenty of people in Portland who do NOT support Kroger. Apparently, he was hoping nobody would notice that he had not bothered to become an Oregon lawyer until this year. I think his failure to mention that fact when soliciting political support was a material omission, bordering on dishonesty -- if not crossing over into it.
Kroger should have been honest. He wasn't. This is NOT a good start for somebody who wants to be Oregon's attorney general.
Sep 20, '07
Oregon Lawyer, give me a break. You are constantly bashing Kroger on this site, and your accusation that Kroger was dishonest about his bar status is ridiculous. It seems like all you can come up with are provincial complaints about how long he has been in the state and nitpicking about the bar exam. Let's move on to something that actually matters - his position on the role of Attorney General and the enforcement and application of the law within the state.
11:42 a.m.
Sep 20, '07
Well I've met both men, Greg MacPherson and John Kroger, and while it was a tough choice for me (as picking between two highly qualified Democrats always is), I've decided my vote goes to Mr. Kroger. He brings an absolutely astounding wealth of prosecutorial experience that, quite frankly, I don't think any other lawyer in the State comes close to matching.
Insofar as "Oregon Lawyer" is concerned, when I first met Mr. Kroger a year ago, and remarked that his qualifications seemed to match him up perfectly with the A.G. spot, the fact that he wasn't admitted to the Oregon Bar was just about the first comment out of his mouth. So this idea that he "failed to mention it" is an assertion that is utterly false, and attacks on Kroger's moral credibility are wholly without merit.
All of that said, if Rep. MacPherson gets the nod from the public instead, I have no doubt that he will serve the public faithfully and well.
11:47 a.m.
Sep 20, '07
Hear, hear Winter.
11:53 a.m.
Sep 20, '07
I'm sure Oregon Lawyer would acknowledge, as I and any other lawyer would, that the moment of taking and passing the bar exam is the one moment in a lawyer's life when he or she is most fully knowledgeable about the law of the state in question. That carefully-crammed-in knowledge begins to seep out almost immediately and continues that inexorable seepage over the years.
By that standard, John Kroger is by far the more knowledgeable of the two. %^>
11:57 a.m.
Sep 20, '07
I would also add that he holds a B.A. Yale College graduating magna cum laude, an M.A. from Yale University and a J.D., again graduating magna cum laude from Harvard Law, and teaches as well as an associate professor of law at Lewis & Clark. He knows the law, yes Oregon law as well, enough to teach it, not just practice it. I think he is more then qualified to be an AG. OregonLawyer's baseless smear about dishonesty over an entirely pedantic non-issue borders on almost comical.
I also agree with your take that Oregon would be well served by either candiate, though I think Kroger's background gives him a clear edge.
12:42 p.m.
Sep 20, '07
I'd be interested to hear the positions of both cnadidates on:
Incarceration of non violent offenders
Confiscation of assets of people charged but not convicted of crimes
Anything at all on the nation's insane drug policies
But I won't hold my breath on any of the above........
1:59 p.m.
Sep 20, '07
Hmmm.... those are real posers, Pat. Let me restate your questions:
Should the non-violent Enron executives go to jail?
Should the death of Key Lay prior to his appeal being formally denied, mean that all his ill gotten gains should go to his wife, instead of the people he stole from?
Should the Attorney General enforce laws, even if he happens to personally disagree with them - or should he act like Alberto Gonzalez did during his tenure?
You're probably right that they won't answer any of these, unless they're actually asked.
2:28 p.m.
Sep 20, '07
I am found of both men, but as I previously stated on this site, my vote goes to Kroger. One of the most important qualifications for the job is the ability to attract good young lawyers to serve in the Department of Justice. It's hard to get good people to turn up their noses at the salaries offered by places like Stoel Rives. You have to get them excited about public service. I think that if John Kroger, scourge of Mafiosi and Enron crooks, became Attorney General, the sex appeal of the Oregon Department of Justice will surge. I have great respect for Hardy Myers, and for Greg. But I remember being in the Federal Justice Department in '93. After corporate lawyer Zoe Baird (counsel for Aetna) fizzled, Bill Clinton ultimately appointed an actual prosecutor, Janet Reno, to head the Department. It felt good to have a career public servant in charge. I think current and future Oregon DOJ lawyers will be especially proud to serve under John.
2:32 p.m.
Sep 20, '07
(laughter) whoops - slip of the mind - I meant FOND of both men. Sorry. By the way, John, if you are reading this, I meant to be at your announcement, but someone told me last week that you were STARTING in Medford, so I thought you were going to be up here this evening.
Sep 20, '07
It's hard to get good people to turn up their noses at the salaries offered by places like Stoel Rives. You have to get them excited about public service.
You also have to pay them more than $55,000. Not as much as they would get at Stoel, but a lot more than they currently get as starting lawyers at DOJ. There are some good reasons why public servants should not expect to get market value, but the current pay is abysmal.
One of Kulongoski's legacies will be the wholesale destruction of the state's nonrepresented, professional workforce. Salaries started low, but under his administration they have plummeted relative to everyone else. Even Kroger won't be able to get top quality lawyers at the current pay scale.
Sep 20, '07
I really don't understand why he's running for AG rather than a seat in the legislature.
Sep 20, '07
Great, just what Oregon needs is an overzealous prosecutor who wants to trample on our civil liberties. It really appears that Kroger has nothing to offer Oregonians anything more than his own political ego.
5:57 p.m.
Sep 20, '07
Hey PG, where are you getting the "overzealous" and "wants to trample on our civil liberties?" I haven't seen anything like that posted here, and those are pretty serious criticisms if they are valid.
6:02 p.m.
Sep 20, '07
I could venture guess, but... oh wait.. shoud have used another t there.
;-)
Sep 20, '07
PG, Kroger made protecting civil liberties part of his principle agenda - along with a new approach to the meth problem, environmental protection, improved child support, and consumer protection.
Sep 20, '07
It is in the AP story:
http://www.kgw.com/politics/stories/kgw_092007_politics_oregon_ag_kroger.f287a587.html
6:39 p.m.
Sep 20, '07
What a fascist!!!!
;-)
Sep 20, '07
"John Kroger, a Lewis & Clark Law School professor, also said he would work to protect civil rights he says have been endangered by conservative judges and federal officials, noting that he has been "an outspoken critic of the Bush administration warrantless wiretapping program."
From the Ap.
Sep 21, '07
To: a rab
I think you mean "principal" agenda, unless you're talking about an agenda of principles.
In any case, this working stiff liked the fact that Kroger invoked the name of Eliot Spitzer (one-time pro-active state AG) now governor of NY in announcing his candidacy. Myers has been a competent AG, though one could never accuse him of being pro-active when it comes to protecting consumers. I would like to see Macpherson remain in the legislature and continue to push for pro-consumerism (OR is abysmal when compared to other states in this regard). Kroger gets my vote.
Sep 21, '07
Although it makes for good press to talk about criminal prosecutions, the next attorney general should be someone who can exercise sound judgment in decision making and successfully manage a department of varied functions (much of which concerns advising agencies on administrative law matters and defending them in civil litigation). Importantly, too, the next attorney general will have to develop a good working relationship with the legislature in order to secure the funding necessary for successful operations of the department. As a voter (and having formerly worked as an attorney at DOJ), I'm less impressed with a lengthy resume and more impressed with a candidate who can demonstrate some or all of these qualities.
11:41 a.m.
Sep 21, '07
PG is not Paul Gronke. Just a note. Thanks. I post as "paul".
Sep 21, '07
As a former student of "Professor" Kroger's at Lewis & Clark Law School, I have to say that I am excited about seeing him run for AG. The only downside to his candidacy from my perspective is that I can't vote for him since I'm not longer an Oregon resident!
Sep 21, '07
As a former student of "Professor" Kroger's at Lewis & Clark Law School, I have to say that I am excited about seeing him run for AG. The only downside to his candidacy from my perspective is that I can't vote for him since I'm not longer an Oregon resident!
Sep 24, '07
I've known Greg Macpherson (although admittedly, not all that well) for over 35 years and recently offered to help him in his election bid for attorney general.
However, the tenor and content of that discussion reminded me all too well of his career in the relatively safe and fairly narrow area of law representing large business clients of a huge law firm. It showed me very little of the prosecutorial experience, watchdog perspective and associated aggressiveness that I look for in an attorney general who can and will stand up to the power of the purse here in Oregon as well as to represent the interests of all Oregonians regardless their social/economic class, political affiliation or other attributes.
I think Greg can best serve Oregonians as a legislator and wish him continued success in his long and distinguished public service and private industry career.
I will begin performing my due diligence today on John Kroger to determine whether and how to support his campaign for Oregon Attorney General.
Sep 24, '07
FYI,
I'm no relation to Steven Maurer although I do appreciate his comments to this story and applaud his willingness to post under his actual name.
Although there may be individuals who have a legitimate need to remain anonymous due to their jobs, e.g., governmental employees prohibited from making public statements, I've noticed a strong correlation here between the use of aliases and the proffering of unsupported innuendo and other cheap shots.
Got spine?
Oct 3, '07
Wednesday-October 3, 2007
Jerry Atlansky-Chairperson Oregon State Police- Independent Citizens Review Board
Subject: Who will WE THE PEOPLE, support for the next Attorney General of the Great State of Oregon?
With a whirlwind of 2 years of researching and investigating the law enforcement agencies we will post here and via hundreds of e-mails most every day who we will endorse for the next attorney general.
We welcome all people to contact us for extra data on effective law enforcement reform that is making progress to be proud that Oregon will be the first in the country to make major changes as noted below to be successful.
UPDATE: Governor Kulongoski will hire the next Attorney General with anyone that will NOT protect the public from out of control cops. With Attorney General Myer's resignation, "why would the governor leave these matters for the public to elect the next Attorney General?" Myers term expires Jan. 2009 the governor will hire his replacement Jan. 2008. "We The Government, For The Government!"
Please read the following data which is a condensed view of our organizations work to bring civility to policing, by starting at the heart of most illegal use of excessive force by the hands of out of control law enforcement officers as witnessed by other officers.
Will you support our efforts by contacting the superiors of the 6 top law enforcement officials named in this report to require them to comply to our requests of three steps to save physical/mental brutality, lethal force by rogue cops against in many cases completely innocent people?
Amend the Police "Code of Conduct" policy/procedures to include: (A) Law enforcement supervisors and line officers are required to intervene when an officer uses excessive force. (B) when officers are repeatedly beating/kicking a restrained person supervisors and line officers must stop the excessive force and arrest the offending officers. (C) If a person is not attacking anyone the FBI state that if officers use lethal force against a person that is unjustifiable homicide.
Train/re-train specific step by step , minimum to maximum force to the highest use of force in attempts to deescalate violence when time and situations permit officers to apply them.
Work with our organization to improve on the trust the public has for law enforcement by monitoring, offering other alternatives to methods and equipment to lessen stress and risk situations. Jerry Atlansky-Chairperson Oregon State Police- Independent Citizens Review Board [email protected] 24/366 Portland, Oregon 97213
Last Subject: Randall Edwards-Oregon State Treasurer refuses to take any action to save lives and millions of $ each year. United States Law Enforcement is two major steps towards a "Secret Police State!"
On July 24, 2007 Oregon Treasury Division responded to our Letter To All Oregonians with Randall Edwards full response, below is our reply to his response and two months later Mr. Edwards failed to take any action to save lives every year and many millions of dollars. Our final determination is Mr. Edwards is derelict of his duties to save money of the states funds whenever possible which would also make the law enforcement bureaus more effective and help stop the rogue cops illegal actions.
Oregon Treasury wrote:
Mr. Atlansky,
Thank you for your email message to the State Treasurer Randall Edwards.
*PLEASE read to the very end of this e-mail Many thanks! Jerry Atlansky
-----Original Message-----
Randall Edwards-State Treasurer Oregon State Salem, Oregon
Dear Mr. Edwards,
We thank you for responding to our letter to all Oregonians giving many facts that 6 top cops in Oregon refuse to protect the public from rogue cops when other officers are witnessing unjustifiable brutality and lethal force. If one of your staff members submitted a very well thought out plan to save the state $100 million a year would you tell them you don't have the authority to act on that project? We are not asking you to fire anyone, demote anyone nor force anyone to take action, what we are asking is if you care about the safety of all Oregonians and their tax money it is your duty to advise the superiors of all 6 top cops to honor their oaths of office as they are making over $600 thousand dollars a year and breaking the civil rights of our citizens.
Please send us copies of your communications so we will be made aware progress is being made on this dire matter. Failure to do so and we will add your name and inaction to the hundreds of letters we are sending to all Oregonians each day.
Best regards,
Jerry Atlansky [email protected] 24/366
Wednesday-September 12, 2007
Jerry Atlansky-Chairperson Oregon State Police- Independent Citizens Review Board
Subject: Randall Edwards-Oregon State Treasurer refuses to take any action to save lives and millions of $ each year. United States Law Enforcement is two major steps towards a "Secret Police State!"
On July 24, 2007 Oregon Treasury Division responded to our Letter To All Oregonians with Randall Edwards full response, below is our reply to his response and two months later Mr. Edwards failed to take any action to save lives every year and many millions of dollars. Our final determination is Mr. Edwards is derelict of his duties to save money of the states funds whenever possible which would also make the law enforcement bureaus more effective and help stop the rogue cops illegal actions.
Oregon Treasury wrote:
Mr. Atlansky,
Thank you for your email message to the State Treasurer Randall Edwards.
*PLEASE read to the very end of this e-mail Many thanks! Jerry Atlansky
-----Original Message-----
Randall Edwards-State Treasurer Oregon State Salem, Oregon
Dear Mr. Edwards,
We thank you for responding to our letter to all Oregonians giving many facts that 6 top cops in Oregon refuse to protect the public from rogue cops when other officers are witnessing unjustifiable brutality and lethal force. If one of your staff members submitted a very well thought out plan to save the state $100 million a year would you tell them you don't have the authority to act on that project? We are not asking you to fire anyone, demote anyone nor force anyone to take action, what we are asking is if you care about the safety of all Oregonians and their tax money it is your duty to advise the superiors of all 6 top cops to honor their oaths of office as they are making over $600 thousand dollars a year and breaking the civil rights of our citizens.
Please send us copies of your communications so we will be made aware of progress is being made on this dire matter. Failure to do so and we will add your name and inaction to the hundreds of letters we are sending to all Oregonians each day.
Best regards,
Jerry Atlansky [email protected] 24/366