Dwight Holton (DOJ)

Dwight C. Holton is putting a new spin on a law intended to eliminate crack houses.

Holton, the interim U.S. Attorney for Oregon, last week summoned the president of Reed College to the federal courthouse and told him to rein in drug use on campus or face potential charges under a federal intended to close crack houses, the New York Times reported. The meeting came one month after a Reed College student died of a heroin overdose, the second student drug-related death in two years.

Under federal law, anyone who knowingly operates premises where drugs are used can be subjected to criminal and civil penalties. According to Inside Higher Ed, the college also could lose its federal funding, including student loans if prosecutors determine the school has not taken adequate steps to combat illegal drug activity on campus. (The president of Reed later clarified that the U.S. Attorney never specifically mentioned the loss of student loans.)

Holton along with the the county district attorney and the county’s deputy D.A. told Reed College president Colin Diver that undercover agents will attend the college spring festival this weekend that is known for the availability of illegal drugs.

“It’s a complicated issue, but two drug deaths in two years on a campus of 1,300 students, something has to change,” Holton told the New York Times.

Kent Robinson (gov)

An Assistant U.S. Attorney has been named the new interim Oregon U.S. Attorney, The Oregonian reports. Dwight C. Holton replaces Kent Robinson, who has been the state’s interim U.S. Attorney. His term expired at midnight on Wednesday, the newspaper reports.

Holton most recently became chief of the criminal division in the district.

Robinson, had been acting U.S. attorney since last July. He now will become the office’s First Assistant U.S. Attorney, a post he also held in 2007. Robinson  was one of three people recommended by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) for formal appointment to the U.S. Attorney position, which requires Senate confirmation. However this week Robinson withdrew his application for reasons that were not immediately made clear, The Oregonian reported.

Joshua Marquis (gov)

The two remaining people recommended for the permanent position are Josh Marquis and Amanda Marshall. The White House has not announced a decision on the appointment.

Marquis has served as the district attorney for Clatsop County since 1994. He previously was the chief deputy district attorney for Deschutes and Lincoln counties. Marquis also worked as a deputy district attorney for Lincoln and Lane counties.

Amanda Marshall (facebook)

Marshall is a child advocacy lawyer for the Oregon Department of Justice. She has a Facebook page promoting her candidacy here.

Joshua Marquis (gov)

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) on Wednesday announced his recommendations for Oregon’s U.S. Attorney.  Read the news release here.

The finalists are Josh Marquis, Amanda Marshall and Kent Robinson.

Kent Robinson (gov)

Marquis has served as the district attorney for Clatsop County since 1994. He previously was the chief deputy district attorney for Deschutes and Lincoln counties. Marquis also worked as a deputy district attorney for Lincoln and Lane counties.

Amanda Marshall (facebook)

Marshall is a child advocacy lawyer for the Oregon Department of Justice. She has a Facebook page promoting her candidacy here.

Robinson is the district’s acting U.S. Attorney. From 2007 until earlier this year, he was the district’s First Assistant U.S. Attorney. From 2001 through 2007, he served as the chief of the criminal division in the district.

The omission of Oregon Assistant U.S. Attorney Dwight Holton from the list came as a surprise, according to Willamette Week in Portland.

The newspaper said:

Going into the weekend, many insiders speculated that Dwight Holton, an assistant U.S. Attorney was likely to be one of three finalists. The son of a former Virginia governor and the brother-in-law of current Virginia governor and Democratic National Committee boss Tim Kaine, Holton is connected, as well as being a well-regarded prosecutor.

Wyden appointed a 13-member selection committee to make recommendations for the senators to consider. The panel also considered Clackamas County District Attorney John Foote and Benton County District Attorney John Haroldson, but their names also weren’t on the final list sent to the White House. President Barack Obama ultimately will select and nominate the U.S. Attorney.

Karin Immergut

Former Oregon U.S. Attorney Karin Immergut, a Bush appointee, is the latest Multnomah County circuit judge, the Oregon Statesman Journal reported Sunday.

Immergut was appointed by President Bush in 2003. She resigned July 9. Kent Robinson is serving as Oregon’s acting U.S. Attorney.

Robinson is one of six candidates in the running to fill Immergut’s seat, in a list drawn up by Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both Democrats. The list also includes:

• Clatsop County District Attorney Josh Marquis
• Clackamas County District Attorney John Foote
• Benton County District Attorney John Haroldson
• Amanda Marshall, a child advocacy lawyer for the Oregon Department of Justice.
• Assistant U.S. Attorney Dwight Holton, who was previously recommended for the U.S. Attorney post for the Eastern District of Virginia by Democratic Sens. Jim Webb and Mark Warner of Virginia  President Obama nominated Associate Deputy Attorney General Neil MacBride for the post.

Ten people have submitted applications for Oregon U.S. Attorney, Willamette Week in Portland, Ore., reported today.

Local lawyers told the newspaper the candidates are:

Kent Robinson (Gov)

-Kent Robinson, Oregon acting U.S. Attorney.

Josh Marquis (Gov)

-Dwight Holton, Oregon Assistant U.S. Attorney and brother-in-law of Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine (D). Democratic Virginia Sens. Jim Webb and Mark Warner previously recommended him for Eastern District of Virginia U.S. Attorney. President Obama ended up nominating Associate Deputy Attorney General Neil MacBride for the post.

-Josh Marquis,  Clatsop County district attorney.

Rob Bovett (Gov)

-John Foote, Clackamas County district attorney.

John Foote (Gov)

-Rob Bovett, Lincoln County district attorney.

-John Haroldson, Benton County district attorney.

-Amanda Marshall, Oregon Department of Justice child advocacy section lawyer. She has a Facebook page promoting her candidacy here.

John Haroldson (Gov)

-Ken Perry, Portland lawyer.

-Robert Hutchings, Lane County public defender.

Amanda Marshall (facebook)

-John Hummel, Portland lawyer and professor at a university in Liberia.

-Josh Kardon, chief of staff to Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), told Willamette Week the U.S. Attorney selection panel will meet in September to pare down its applicant list and will interview candidates in October.

Associate Deputy Attorney General Neil MacBride was nominated for Virginia Eastern District U.S. Attorney Thursday night, according to a White House news release.

The Washington Post reported earlier this week that MacBride was going through FBI background checks for the job.

Neil MacBride (Business Software Alliance)

Democratic Virginia Sens. Mark Warner and Jim Webb recommended that President Obama nominate either MacBride, Eastern District Assistant U.S. Attorney Erik R. Barnett, former U.S. Attorney for the Western District Robert P. Crouch or Dwight Holton, an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Oregon and the brother-in-law of Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine (D) brother-in-law. Read our previous post on the senators’ U.S. Attorney recommendations here.

Law enforcement officials told The Post that it is vital to install a Senate-confirmed U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District as soon as possible since the office is vying for the opportunity to prosecute self-proclaimed Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed and his alleged accomplices. The office is currently led by interim U.S. Attorney Dana Boente.

MacBride has served as an associate deputy attorney general since January. He was previously chief counsel to Vice President Biden and a vice president at the Business Software Alliance, where he lobbied the Senate, according to The Post.

Some governmental watchdogs have expressed concern over Obama nominating MacBride because of his past in lobbying, The Post said. They have pointed out that such an appointment would run against Obama’s attempts to reform D.C. lobbying customs, according to the newspaper.

But DOJ officials and former co-workers told The Post that MacBride’s past as a lobbyist and a prosecutor would make him a perfect candidate for U.S. Attorney.

This post was updated to reflect MacBride’s formal nomination by the White House on Thursday.