[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 27, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61327-61328]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27885]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

[OLP Docket No. 167]


Notice of Request for Certification of Texas Capital Counsel 
Mechanism

AGENCY: Department of Justice.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the State of Texas has 
provided additional information regarding its request for certification 
of its capital counsel mechanism by the Attorney General, and that the 
period to submit public comment to the Department of Justice regarding 
Texas's request has been extended to 60 days from the date of 
publication of this notice.

DATES: Written and electronic comments must be submitted on or before 
February 26, 2018. Comments received by mail will be considered timely 
if they are postmarked on or before that date. The electronic Federal 
Docket Management System (FDMS) will accept comments until Midnight 
Eastern Time at the end of that day.

ADDRESSES: To ensure proper handling of comments, please reference 
``Docket No. OLP 167'' on all electronic and written correspondence. 
The Department encourages that all comments be submitted electronically 
through http://www.regulations.gov using the electronic comment form 
provided on that site. Paper comments that duplicate the electronic 
submission should not be submitted. Individuals who wish to submit 
written comments may send those to the contact listed in the FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION section immediately below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laurence Rothenberg, Deputy Assistant 
Attorney General, Office of Legal Policy, U.S. Department of Justice, 
950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20530; telephone (202) 532-
4465.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Chapter 154 of title 28, United States Code, 
provides special procedures for federal habeas corpus review of cases 
brought by prisoners in State custody who are subject to capital 
sentences. These special procedures may be available to a State only if 
the Attorney General of the United States has certified that the State 
has established a qualifying mechanism for the appointment, 
compensation, and payment of reasonable litigation expenses of 
competent counsel in State postconviction proceedings for indigent 
capital prisoners. 28 U.S.C. 2261, 2265; 28 CFR part 26.
    On November 16, 2017, the Department of Justice, Office of Legal 
Policy published a notice in the Federal Register (82 FR 53530, OLP 
Docket No. 167, Document No. 2017-24874, available at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/11/16/2017-24874/notice-of-request-for-certification-of-texas-capital-counsel-mechanism), advising 
the public of Texas's request for certification, dated March 11, 2013, 
and requesting public comment regarding that request. The Department 
also sent a letter to Texas, dated November 16, 2017, asking whether 
the State wished to supplement or update that request.
    This notice advises the public that the State of Texas has 
submitted additional information in regard to its prior request for 
certification. Public comment is solicited regarding Texas's request, 
and the comment period has been extended to 60 days from the date of 
publication of this notice. Texas's request and supporting materials 
may be viewed at https://www.justice.gov/olp/pending-requests-final-decisions.
    One comment received by the Department in response to the 
Department's November 16, 2017 notice requested the comment period be 
extended from 60 days to 90 days from the date of publication of 
Texas's supplemental information. The Department declines at this time 
to extend the comment period to 90 days, but, as noted, has extended 
the deadline for public comment until 60 days from the date of 
publication of this notice. Further, the Department may choose to 
solicit additional public comment if necessary during the review 
process.


[[Page 61328]]


    Dated: December 20, 2017.
Beth A. Williams,
Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Policy.
[FR Doc. 2017-27885 Filed 12-26-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4410-BB-P