Former U.S. Attorney for Western Washington John McKay has joined the Davis Wright Tremaine law firm. He will head the firm's government investigations and crisis management group.
He has been teaching at Seattle University’s School of Law since 2007, covering constitutional and national security law, as well as ethics and leadership.
For the last two years, McKay was running the U.S. government’s Rule of Law program in Palestine, helping establish a judicial system in anticipation of a potential independent Palestinian state.
“I miss representing clients and want to get back into that practice again,” says McKay, who, prior to 2001, spent many years in private practice, representing local and national companies in complex commercial litigation.
“This particular area of government investigations is challenging. Anytime the FBI shows up and says ‘we want your hard drive and we want your documents,’ that is when good counseling is needed,” he says.
McKay, who was named U.S. Attorney by President George W. Bush in 2001. McKay was summarily fired by Bush’s Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez in 2007, along with eight of McKay’s colleagues across the country, creating significant national controversy.
A statement from Davis Wright Tremaine says, in part: “As U.S. Attorney, McKay played a vital role in the fight against terrorism. He helped lead the investigation and prosecution of James Ujaama, who pled guilty to assisting the Taliban and later cooperated in terror investigations. He also spearheaded sentencing of Ahmed Ressam, who sought to bomb Los Angeles International Airport.
“I did good service for six years as U.S. Attorney,” says McKay. “ Having been fired by Alberto Gonzales has turned out to be a positive thing and will make me a better counselor and lawyer. Though it was not of my making, which became clear over time, any sort of crisis like that can make you stronger. I am not happy I went though it, but I try to grow from these things, and I am sure I have.”
Transitioning now from teaching full time at law school, McKay starts his role at Davis Wright Tremaine on May 1. “This is a perfect opportunity to get back to my practice and to get with a great firm,” he says.
Some of McKay’s career is outlined in that statement from Davis Wright Tremaine: “McKay started his career as a legislative assistant to longtime Washington state Congressman Joel Pritchard. He later served as a White House Fellow and Special Assistant to the FBI Director during the administration of George H.W. Bush.
McKay has worked continuously to expand access to the legal profession. He was a founder and director of the Northwest Minority Job Fair and served on the Washington State Bar Association’s task force on Opportunities for Minorities in the Legal Profession.”
McKay’s numerous honors include the Navy’s highest civilian honor, the Distinguished Public Service award, for his innovative leadership in creating a center for real-time analysis of criminal and terrorist threats and a cutting-edge method for sharing law enforcement records; the Washington State Bar Association’s Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year Award and its Award of Merit; as well as awards from the Legal Foundation of Washington and the American Jewish Committee.