Court Opinion

ID: 9471630
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 03:37:21.347277+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:42:30.335032
License: Public Domain

DUNIWAY, Circuit Judge
(dissenting):
I dissent.
The applicable regulation, 7 C.F.R. § 272.4(e)(l)(i) reads, in part:
In the event that a State agency is sued by any person(s) in a State or Federal Court in any matter which involves the State agency’s administration of the Food Stamp Program, the State agency shall immediately notify FNS that suit has been brought and shall furnish FNS with copies of the original pleadings. State agencies involved in suits shall, upon request of FNS, take such action as is necessary to join the United States and/or appropriate officials of the Federal Government ... as parties to the suit.
We must presume that the required notice to FNS has been given. It is presumed that government officials obey the law and perform the duties imposed on them by law. See, e.g., Federal Communications Commission v. Schreiber, 1965, 381 U.S. 279, 296, 85 S.Ct. 1459, 1470, 14 L.Ed.2d 383 applying *1425“the presumption to which administrative agencies are entitled — that they will act properly and according to law;” United States v. Crusell, 1871, 81 U.S. (14 Wall.) 1, 4, 20 L.Ed. 821; In re Hergenroeder, 9 Cir.1977, 555 F.2d 686. Moreover, because steps have not been taken to join the United States or appropriate federal officials, we must presume that FNS has not requested that action be taken to join the United States or such officials.
In short, we must presume that FNS has been afforded notice and an opportunity to participate. Neither it nor the United States nor any Federal official is knocking at the door. Under these circumstances, I see no reason for us to require the trial court to open the door and go out and look for federal agencies or officials and invite them in.
I would decide this ease on the merits.