Rogue of the week 10.30.14

A certain Assistant Attorney General is up to it again. Faced with the appeal of a decision he wrongfully obtained, he attempted to deny the administrative record to the reviewing court. The record for review is something that has to be provided by the agency against whom the appeal is taken. It usually is a routine matter. However, in this case, the Assistant Attorney General did not respond to the request for weeks. He then insisted that the appellant pay an extraordinary amount for the transcript. He raised that amount three times. When the appellant nevertheless paid it, he then concocted several other reasons for delays. Several months later, it took a motion to the reviewing court to force him to authorize the turnover of the record.Don’t think for a minute that because there are laws you have rights. You only have the rights you can afford to enforce. Your government will look to take them away, if it can. Your best defense is to be assertive and to obtain competent legal advice. Don’t trust that government officials will do the right thing, obey laws, or observe the constitution they are charged with protecting.