In my experience, any time one goes to work for the government, it conducts a proctological background check that takes weeks or months to complete. They ask for every piece of information that one could possibly imagine, including all of the places one has lived for what seems their entire life, the names of neighbors and co-workers, and the nature of all the positions one has held. That kind of check gets conducted for entry-level positions where any kind of security clearance is required; it gets more involved the higher the clearance gets.

So it comes as a rather large and unpleasant surprise that the White House and the Pentagon had no idea one of their top lawyers had been disbarred in Texas:

A top Air Force lawyer who served at the White House and in a senior position in Iraq turns out to have been practicing law for 23 years without a license.

Col. Michael D. Murphy was most recently commander of the Air Force Legal Operations Agency at Bolling Air Force Base in the District.

He was the general counsel for the White House Military Office from December 2001 to January 2003, and from August 2003 to January 2005. In between those tours, he was the legal adviser to the reconstruction effort in Iraq, an Air Force spokesman said.

Murphy later served in 2005 as commandant of the Air Force Judge Advocate General's School at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Ala.

He was relieved of his command at Bolling on Nov. 30 after the Air Force learned that he had been disbarred for professional misconduct in Texas in 1984 but hadn't informed his superiors, according to Air Force Times, an independent newspaper that first reported the action. It said that his status was discovered in the course of an unrelated review.

What gives? In the intervening time, Murphy had won promotions and access to the highest levels of government. He served two tours at the White House, and commanded the Air Force JAG School. In all of that time, no one did a routine check on his legal credentials -- the very reason for his service.

I don't care which party occupies the White House. Responsible vetting of those with access to command positions and the White House is an absolute requirement. Heads should roll over this embarrassment.

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» This is tough from The Florida Masochist
Who the heck do I give the Knucklehead for this. A top Air Force lawyer who served at the White House and in a senior position in Iraq turns out to have been practicing law for 23 years without a license. Col. Michael D. Murphy was most recentl ... [Read More]

Tracked on December 10, 2006 10:16 AM

» ISN’T DOING A BACK GROUND CHECK ON AN ATTORNEY AN OXYMORON? WHAT DO THEY EXPECT TO FIND?????? from Right Voices
Said my attorney when I sent him this link: A top Air Force lawyer who served at the White House and in a senior position in Iraq turns out to have been practicing law for 23 years without a license. Col. Michael D. Murphy was most recently commander o... [Read More]

Tracked on December 11, 2006 12:53 PM