Opinion ID: 547275
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Oath Requirement

Text: 31 Plesinski argues that the failure to readminister an oath on May 2, 1988, after the lapse of Feldman's appointment on April 30, 1988, vitiated any valid authorization he may have had to conduct proceedings as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney. Title 28, United States Code, Sec. 544 provides that each attorney appointed under section 543 of this title, before taking office, shall take an oath to execute faithfully his duties. Plesinski relies on United States v. Pignatiello, 582 F.Supp. 251 (D.Colo.1984), wherein the court dismissed an indictment based on the special prosecutor's failure to take the oath prior to appearing before the grand jury. 32 Pignatiello is inapplicable in this case. Unlike the special prosecutor in Pignatiello, Feldman had taken the oath of office upon his original valid appointment on October 26, 1986. Admittedly, he did not renew the oath of office following his unauthorized reappointment after a two-day lapse in May 1988. However, Feldman, who was not aware of any defect in the appointment until November 1988, continued to act as a special prosecutor, presumably in reliance upon the original oath. When it was discovered that the May 1988 appointment was defective, Feldman immediately renewed the oath of office on November 23, 1988. Under these circumstances, we find that Feldman sufficiently complied with the oath requirement of section 544. 33 AFFIRMED.