Thread by @jtlarsen

Whitaker's background is that of a staunch party loyalist.

Now, some unreported details show just how minimal his relevant legal experience was prior to becoming a federal prosecutor.

I'll thread some details, but the story from @tytinvestigates is here:
bit.ly/2DOCD8V

Whitaker was graduated from Iowa Law School in 1995, fewer than nine years before his nomination to the position of U.S. attorney.

He had never beem a prosecutor and had no experience in civil rights.

The Senate questionnaire asked for his 10 most important litigated cases...

Of Whitaker's 10 most important litigated cases, he served as lead counsel on five.

Of the five on which he served as lead counsel, he won one and lost two.

During Whitaker's nine years prior to becoming U.S. attorney...

Only a quarter of his court appearances were federal during his three-year stint at the Finley law firm.

For the other six years, only 15 percent of his court appearances were federal.

Obviously, experience with criminal law is crucial.

But according to Whitaker’s own estimate, his experience in criminal law was limited to about 10% of his work at Finley.

At the other firms Whitaker worked he had zero criminal experience.

Whitaker worked at Finley for approximately three years.

If criminal cases really only took up 10% of his time there, as he reported, that would mean Whitaker became southern Iowa's top federal prosecutor with no more than four months of professional experience in criminal law.

Here are details on all ten of the cases Whitaker identified as the most important ones he litigated.

(Some of the cases have been previously reported: washingtonpost.com/opinions/matth….)

John Harkness v. Samuel Burt

Whitaker represented a plaintiff making what he described in his disclosure form as a “[p]ersonal injury claim resulting from driver of automobile driving over Mr. Harkness’ leg.”

Jane Johnston v. Hy-Vee, Inc. and Ronnie and Mechelle Woodruff d/b/a Lenox Cleaners

Whitaker successfully defended Hy-Vee, Inc., in this case “arising out of drycleaning performed by Lenox Cleaners that operated out of a Hy-Vee store.”

(His one clear-cut victory out of the 10.)

Beth Manning & Jody Sprock d/b/a Beth Manning, Jody Sprock Interiors & Associates v. Bertini Marble & Tile L.C.

Bertini was sued over a “home remodeling performed at residence of Thomas and Michelle Brown.”

As lead trial attorney for Bertini Marble & Tile, Whitaker lost.

Gilcrest/Jewett Lumber v. Betts & Beer Construction Co., Inc..

Whitaker’s other loss came in another breach of contract claim, in which he represented the defendant in an epic “subcontractor against general contractor” showdown.

All seven of Whitaker's other most important litigated cases were settled out of court...

Continental Machinery Movers v. Midland International Tileworks, Inc.
(Breach of contract case involving the relocation of industrial equipment — settled).

Ramp v. City of Des Moines & Brooks Borg Skiles

Dispute over construction of a parking ramp at Des Moines International Airport (settled).

Mass Transit Authority v. Design Alliance, et al.

Dispute over failure to procure a construction bond (settled).

Swan Packing, et al v. Millard Refrigerated Services and Midwest Automatic Fire Sprinkler Company

Dispute over damages of $1.5 million in meatpacking inventory (settled).

Kevin Askins d/b/a Community Builders v. J.P. Mann Construction Company & United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company

Dispute between contractor and subcontractor (settled).

City of Eldora et al. v. Mercy Medical Center et al.

Dispute over closure of hospital/clinic (settled).

No word, btw, on whether Whitaker considers the Hy-Vee ruling settled law...

How many cases during Whitaker's entire career prior to becoming U.S. attorney had led to a jury verdict or judgment?

Ten.

Half of those cases weren’t big enough to require more than one lawyer. On only three of those cases had Whitaker overseen other attorneys.

In addition, Whitaker indicates that only ten percent of the cases that led to verdict/judgment were jury trials.

Ten percent of ten cases = One single case before a jury that led to an actual verdict or judgment.

Whitaker was ALSO asked to include his most important legal work of ANY kind, including but not limited to litigation. He identified five—Two corporate acquisitions, two sales, and one merger.

Whitaker was ALSO asked to include his most important legal work of ANY kind, including but not limited to litigation.

He identified five—Two corporate acquisitions, two sales, and one merger.

For "Honors and Awards" of interest to the Judiciary Committee, Whitaker lists five.

All are from college.

Three are about football.

Two are about law school:
- Graduating with distinction
- Working on the law review

The single article, book, or speech Whitaker lists is a law review article called “Iowa’s Limited Liability Company Act: An Entrepreneur’s Dream.”

It is cited only once online...in another law-review article that lists stuff you can write about.pennstatelaw.psu.edu/_file/protecte…

The overall impression is one of a lawyer who saw the law as an aspect of doing business (Whitaker got an MBA the same year he got his JD).

This might not matter, except that Whitaker's business dealings are now being scrutinized.

But Whitaker's experience is most important due to the concern that he was appointed for partisan rather than professional reasons.

And as @kenklippenstein and I previously reported, DOJ has never released internal documents about exactly that.

/Thread
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