Opinion ID: 345119
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The Authority of Special Strike Force Attorneys.

Text: 79 Appellant Gomez argues that the Attorney General of the United States was without authority to delegate to special Strike Force attorneys the responsibility of conducting this criminal litigation. This contention is based on two arguments: (1) that the Attorney General cannot delegate to subordinate Department of Justice officials his authority to appoint and direct special attorneys; and (2) that the Attorney General is without authority to create Regional Strike Forces. This court has previously concluded that the first of these arguments is without merit. United States v. Cravero, 545 F.2d 406 (5th Cir. 1976), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 97 S.Ct. 1679, 52 L.Ed.2d 377 (April 26, 1977); United States v. Morris, 532 F.2d 436, 439-40 (5th Cir. 1976). We find no reason to abandon our previous conclusions with respect to this contention. 80 Appellant Gomez' second contention that the Attorney General cannot designate Regional Strike Forces is foreclosed by the language of 28 U.S.C. § 515(a) which provides as follows: 81 (a) The Attorney General or any other officer of the Department of Justice, or any attorney specially appointed by the Attorney General under law, may, when specifically directed by the Attorney General, conduct any kind of legal proceeding, civil or criminal, including grand jury proceedings and proceedings before committing magistrates, which United States attorneys are authorized by law to conduct, whether or not he is a resident of the district in which the proceeding is brought. (emphasis added). 82 The section imposes no geographical limitations on the Attorney General's authority to organize specially appointed attorneys who are appointed and directed to conduct proceedings pursuant to the statutory provision. Moreover, appellant Gomez has cited no authority which supports his contention. United States v. Giordano, 416 U.S. 505, 94 S.Ct. 1820, 40 L.Ed.2d 341 (1974), construing the specific limitations on the Attorney General's authority to delegate authority under 18 U.S.C. § 2516(1), has no bearing on the contention here presented. 83 We therefore conclude that the argument is without merit.