Nickles is a bum. He needs to go. He doesn't live in DC. He doesn't pay taxes in DC. He has a Virginia red neck mentality.

How could the city's top lawyer be so ignorant of employment laws that he would actually tell the newspaper that he wants a "young" staff? Whether the decisions were truly based on age or not, his careless remark undoubtedly will cost the city money in settlements of age discrimination cases. So much for cost-saving from the terminations.

I think that from I've read and heard he is doing a fine job with his position. The residency in VA is not an issue, persons in his position have 6 months to reside in the District.

There is a soft housing market and he can make things happen.

It is clear from Nickles' public statements, and from the way that these firings are being conducted, that they are being done for budget reasons. When firings are being done for budget reasons the Office of the Attorney General must follow the RIF regulations. RIF regulations require that the least senior members of staff be fired first. This is exactly the opposite of the way that these firings are being done. Nickles may want to get rid of older, less physically fit workers (people who are also more experienced, seasoned litigators) but the law protects these people for obvious reasons. Nickles may not like the law, but as the interim Attorney General one would hope that he would at least pretend to follow it, rather than intentionally flout it.

Thank God someone is finally doing something about the often-mediocre candidates that fill District positions and promote its image as a "third-world" government. My personal dealings with District lawyers have often left me appalled and wondering how they could have been hired in the first place. GO, Mayor Fenty and Mr. Nickles! Get rid of inept slackers and give us the calibre of public servant we, as the capitol of the free world, DESERVE!!!

If ONLY these were the "inept slacker" that Orsalia refers too...unfortunately they are not. There is no way that this is an acceptable way to do business...it is obvious age discrimination.

Thank God someone is finally doing something about the often-mediocre candidates that fill District positions and promote its image as a "third-world" government. My personal dealings with District lawyers have often left me appalled and wondering how they could have been hired in the first place. GO, Mayor Fenty and Mr. Nickles! Get rid of inept slackers and give us the calibre of public servant we, as the capitol of the free world, DESERVE!!!

Posted by: Orsalia | May 23, 2008 12:02 PM
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Orsalia, do your realize that Mayor Fenty, when he was a practicing attorney, stole money from a dead old man's estate and put it into his personal account, only to return if after he got caught and sanctioned by the bar and guess who petitoned the bar on his behalf, yes, Peter Nickles himself.

You can walk about this town with your Elton John blinders on if you want, but I elect transparency to see the full facts before I judge one way or the other.

The Mayor depends on people LIKE YOU, who blankedly support him in everything that he does. Fenty is no Bloomberg.

Granted, at least the public handling of this by Nickles appears to be atrocious, and also granted that there are a lot of hard working, fine lawyers in the AG's office, anyone who's had to deal with that agency can attest to the fact that there are also some absolute losers working there. Attorneys who are lazy, unpleasant, dishonest, and absolutely unqualified to practice law. There are attorneys in that office, particularly in the labor section, who would be homeless if they were private practioners.

Excellent point above about Mayor Fenty. It's awfully hard to get disciplined by the DC Bar, yet he was disciplined -- twice, if I recall correctly. I can't believe it was Nickles that petitioned on his behalf, now claiming that he is firing people because he can accept only "star" attorneys. What a phony.

Mr. Nickles and Mr. Fenty are costing the District millions in settlements. Both speak without thinking and you the taxpayer NEVER hear about the outcome because settlements are CONFIDENTIAL.
There is something Mr. Nickles is doing WEll: Ensuring that his OLD buddies get paid by getting involved in pending cases at the OAG. He actually gets calls directly from his buddies demanding settlements in cases. Yes, they don't talk to the lawyer assigned to the case or the supervisor, they actually call Mr. Nickles and tell him "Let's Settle." Then, guess who negotiates the settlement: NICKLES himself. Talk about a conflict of interest if I ever heard of one.
Don't thin this is a conflict? Guess who the buddies are: Lawyers at his old firm Covington. What a Joke.

I just want to say that I think that the idea of having professional attorneys clock in like clerks is demoralizing and demeaning. Will they be paid by the hour ? Is that the way the star attorneys worked at his former firm ?

As a long time employee, I am appalled by the recent actions of Mr. Nickles. Every time a new Attorney General with the exception of Peter Nickles, they are amazed at the quality and dedication of the attorneys in the office. Just ask Judge Ferren and DC Bar President elect Robert Spagnoletti.

Many of the employees who were terminated have worked for years under conditions that the private bar would would abhor. There is virtually no support, so attorneys are faxing, copying, collating and mailing all of their own documents. They are in offices which have not been painted or had their rugs cleaned for over 15 years with furniture that is older than the "Smart Young Attorneys" that the AG wishes to hire.
Many of us were subject to previous budget freezes and missed many promotions that we would otherwise be entitled to. Also we watched as new AGS came in and hired his or her colleagues who were less experienced and at higher salaries. It was not until we formed the union that we finally began to get the compensation that we are entititled to.

This office has a comaraderie and sense if of purpose among the career attorneys. Many times an attorney leaves and then come back to the District, even for a pay cut, because we love the work and the people that we work with.

We go into public service knowing that the pay is not great, but at least we were treated with respect by our managers.

The morale has never been lower in this office even without the terminations.

Ultimately, it is the D.C. Council that will decide whether Mr. Nickles can move from Interim to permanent Attorney General. Let's hope the Council is willing to be as firm with Mr. Nickles as Mr. Nickles is to those he believes are not "stars." Mr. Nickles is no star.

MR. Nickles is an arrogant AHOLE