Samuel M. Witten
Encyclopedia
Samuel M. Witten is a United States
lawyer
who was Deputy Legal Adviser of the Department of State
from 2001 to 2007, and Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration
from 2007 to 2009.
, receiving a B.A.
in 1979, and at Columbia Law School
, receiving a J.D.
in 1983.
After law school, Witten clerked for Judge
Stanley Seymour Brotman
of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
. He then spent 1984 through 1989 working as a staff attorney at the United States Department of State
. He worked at the law firm
of O'Melveny & Myers from 1989 to 1992, where his work particularly focused on the right of U.S. airlines to operate outside the United States. He joined the United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division
in 1992, working there until 1993. In 1993-94, he headed a team of lawyers representing the United States at an international arbitration
relating to the U.S.'s longstanding dispute with the United Kingdom
related to U.S. airlines' access to London Heathrow Airport
.
Witten joined the United States Department of State
in 1994, becoming legal counsel of the Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism
. In 1996, he became Assistant Legal Adviser
for Law Enforcement and Intelligence. There, his work involved the extradition
of fugitives to and from the United States; he was also involved in negotiating treaties related to international law enforcement cooperation. In 2001, Witten was promoted to Deputy Legal Adviser of the Department of State
, serving under Legal Adviser William Howard Taft IV
, and, after Taft's departure in 2005, John B. Bellinger III
. He was the #2 man in charge of all the State Department's legal matters, including human rights and refugees, law enforcement matters, and international economic issues. In 2005-2006, he also served as Director of the Office of War Crimes Issues
.
In June 2007, Witten was appointed Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration
. With the Departure of Assistant Secretary Ellen Sauerbrey
, on December 31, 2007, Witten became Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration. He served as Acting Assistant Secretary until July 8, 2009, when Eric P. Schwartz
was sworn in as Assistant Secretary.
In 2010, Witten joined the Washington, D.C.
offices of law firm Arnold & Porter
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
who was Deputy Legal Adviser of the Department of State
Legal Adviser of the Department of State
The Legal Adviser of the Department of State is a position within the United States Department of State. It was created by an Act of Congress on February 23, 1931 and given a rank equivalent to that of an Assistant Secretary...
from 2001 to 2007, and Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration
Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration
The Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration is the head of the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration within the United States Department of State...
from 2007 to 2009.
Biography
Samuel M. Witten was educated at the University of Maryland, College ParkUniversity of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
, receiving a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1979, and at Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
, receiving a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
in 1983.
After law school, Witten clerked for Judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
Stanley Seymour Brotman
Stanley Seymour Brotman
Stanley Seymour Brotman is a United States federal judge.Born in Vineland, New Jersey, Brotman was in the United States Army during World War II, from 1942 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1952. He received a B.A. from Yale University in 1947 and an LL.B. from Harvard Law School in 1950...
of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
The United States District Court for the District of New Jersey is the federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of New Jersey....
. He then spent 1984 through 1989 working as a staff attorney at the United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
. He worked at the law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
of O'Melveny & Myers from 1989 to 1992, where his work particularly focused on the right of U.S. airlines to operate outside the United States. He joined the United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division
United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division
The United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division is responsible for enforcing the antitrust laws of the United States. It shares jurisdiction over civil antitrust cases with the Federal Trade Commission and often works jointly with the FTC to provide regulatory guidance to businesses...
in 1992, working there until 1993. In 1993-94, he headed a team of lawyers representing the United States at an international arbitration
International arbitration
International arbitration is a leading method for resolving disputes arising from international commercial agreements and other international relationships...
relating to the U.S.'s longstanding dispute with the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
related to U.S. airlines' access to London Heathrow Airport
London Heathrow Airport
London Heathrow Airport or Heathrow , in the London Borough of Hillingdon, is the busiest airport in the United Kingdom and the third busiest airport in the world in terms of total passenger traffic, handling more international passengers than any other airport around the globe...
.
Witten joined the United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
in 1994, becoming legal counsel of the Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism
Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism
The Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism is an office of the United States Department of State. It coordinates all U.S. Government efforts to improve counter-terrorism cooperation with foreign governments and participates in the development, coordination, and implementation of American...
. In 1996, he became Assistant Legal Adviser
Legal Adviser of the Department of State
The Legal Adviser of the Department of State is a position within the United States Department of State. It was created by an Act of Congress on February 23, 1931 and given a rank equivalent to that of an Assistant Secretary...
for Law Enforcement and Intelligence. There, his work involved the extradition
Extradition
Extradition is the official process whereby one nation or state surrenders a suspected or convicted criminal to another nation or state. Between nation states, extradition is regulated by treaties...
of fugitives to and from the United States; he was also involved in negotiating treaties related to international law enforcement cooperation. In 2001, Witten was promoted to Deputy Legal Adviser of the Department of State
Legal Adviser of the Department of State
The Legal Adviser of the Department of State is a position within the United States Department of State. It was created by an Act of Congress on February 23, 1931 and given a rank equivalent to that of an Assistant Secretary...
, serving under Legal Adviser William Howard Taft IV
William Howard Taft IV
William Howard Taft IV is an attorney who has served in the United States government under several Republican administrations. He is the son of William Howard Taft III and the great-grandson of U.S. President William Howard Taft....
, and, after Taft's departure in 2005, John B. Bellinger III
John B. Bellinger III
John B. Bellinger, III was the Legal Adviser to the United States Secretary of State. He was sworn in on April 8, 2005. He was the principal adviser on all domestic and international law matters to the Department of State, the Foreign Service, and the diplomatic and consular posts abroad...
. He was the #2 man in charge of all the State Department's legal matters, including human rights and refugees, law enforcement matters, and international economic issues. In 2005-2006, he also served as Director of the Office of War Crimes Issues
Office of War Crimes Issues
The Office of War Crimes Issues is an office within the United States Department of State.It is charged with advising the Secretary of State and formulating U.S. policy relating to war crimes and other atrocities. The office reports to the United States Deputy Secretary of State.The Department of...
.
In June 2007, Witten was appointed Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration
Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration
The Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration is the head of the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration within the United States Department of State...
. With the Departure of Assistant Secretary Ellen Sauerbrey
Ellen Sauerbrey
Ellen Sauerbrey is an American politician from Maryland and the former head of the United States Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration. She was nominated to the Bureau in September 2005 by President George W. Bush. On January 4, 2006, Bush placed her in office by way...
, on December 31, 2007, Witten became Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration. He served as Acting Assistant Secretary until July 8, 2009, when Eric P. Schwartz
Eric P. Schwartz
Eric Paul Schwartz is the current United States Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration, having been sworn in to office on July 8, 2009.-Biography:...
was sworn in as Assistant Secretary.
In 2010, Witten joined the Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
offices of law firm Arnold & Porter
Arnold & Porter
Arnold & Porter LLP is a nine-office international law firm based in Washington, D.C. Arnold & Porter is well known for its trial, corporate, and antitrust work, and for its pro bono commitments and support for liberal causes.-History:...
.