Thomas B. Heffelfinger
Encyclopedia
Thomas B. Heffelfinger was a U.S. Attorney for Minnesota from 1991–1993 and from 2001–2006. He served as assistant U.S. Attorney from 1982 to 1988 and assistant Hennepin County Attorney from 1976 to 1982.
from Stanford University
in 1970, and his J.D.
from the University of Minnesota Law School
in 1975.
on March 21, 2005 absorbed much of his time in the subsequent 11 months.
. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported that it was unusual that "the former U.S. attorney for Minnesota, Thomas Heffelfinger, was not invited" to the swearing in ceremony for Paulose. Paulose's spokesperson, Jeanne Cooney,said "It was a public event. Anybody who wanted to go could have gone." The article speculates that Heffelfinger, a moderate Republican, could have been a candidate for dismissal had he not stepped aside to make way for a more conservative candidate.
Heffelfinger was angry at the Department of Justice for putting him on a list for dismissal, for, as Monica Goodling
testified, his preoccupation with Indian affairs issues. Heffelfinger strongly defended his work on Indian affairs issues: "The fact that some allegedly responsible official or officials in Washington at main Justice now believe that I should have been removed for spending too much time focused on the public safety of Native Americans
is outrageous, and it's shameful."
Circumstantial evidence suggests that Heffelfinger was targeted for dismissal by the Department of Justice
as a consequence of his positions on tribal voting in Minnesota
. Heffelfinger's appearance on potential dismissal lists at the Department of Justice apparently fits a pattern associating the dismissed attorneys and voting issues. The names of Bradley Schlozman
and Hans A. von Spakovsky
appear in this case, as a result of the political sensitivity of the tribal voting issue. Schlozman is a central figure to a voting and elections controversy in Missouri
.
he will focus on white-collar criminal defense and American Indian law.
Early life
Heffelfinger received his 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...
from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1970, and his 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...
from the University of Minnesota Law School
University of Minnesota Law School
The University of Minnesota Law School, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, is a professional school of the University of Minnesota. The school offers a Juris Doctor , Masters of Law for Foreign Lawyers, and joint degrees with J.D./M.B.A., J.D./M.P.A, J.D./M.A., J.D./M.S., J.D./Ph.D.,...
in 1975.
Indian Affairs
Investigation of the shooting deaths of ten people at a school at the Red Lake Indian ReservationRed Lake Indian Reservation
The Red Lake Indian Reservation covers 1,258.62 sq mi in parts of nine counties in northern Minnesota, United States. It is divided into many pieces, although the largest piece is centered about Red Lake, in north-central Minnesota, the largest lake entirely within that state. This section lies...
on March 21, 2005 absorbed much of his time in the subsequent 11 months.
Dismissal of U.S. Attorneys Controversy
Heffelfinger resigned on February 28, 2006 for personal reasons, and he was replaced by Rachel PauloseRachel Paulose
Rachel Kunjummen Paulose is an attorney for the Securities and Exchange Commission in Miami, United States. She is the former U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota. Palouse resigned the position of U.S. Attorney on November 19, 2007...
. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported that it was unusual that "the former U.S. attorney for Minnesota, Thomas Heffelfinger, was not invited" to the swearing in ceremony for Paulose. Paulose's spokesperson, Jeanne Cooney,said "It was a public event. Anybody who wanted to go could have gone." The article speculates that Heffelfinger, a moderate Republican, could have been a candidate for dismissal had he not stepped aside to make way for a more conservative candidate.
Heffelfinger was angry at the Department of Justice for putting him on a list for dismissal, for, as Monica Goodling
Monica Goodling
Monica Marie Goodling is a former United States government lawyer and political appointee in the George W. Bush administration who became known in 2007 in the midst of a political controversy surrounding the firings of several United States Attorneys...
testified, his preoccupation with Indian affairs issues. Heffelfinger strongly defended his work on Indian affairs issues: "The fact that some allegedly responsible official or officials in Washington at main Justice now believe that I should have been removed for spending too much time focused on the public safety of Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
is outrageous, and it's shameful."
Circumstantial evidence suggests that Heffelfinger was targeted for dismissal by the Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
as a consequence of his positions on tribal voting in Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. Heffelfinger's appearance on potential dismissal lists at the Department of Justice apparently fits a pattern associating the dismissed attorneys and voting issues. The names of Bradley Schlozman
Bradley Schlozman
Bradley J. Schlozman is an American attorney who served as acting head of the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice under Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Schlozman was also later appointed by Gonzales as the interim U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri,...
and Hans A. von Spakovsky
Hans A. von Spakovsky
Hans A. von Spakovsky is an American attorney and a former member of the Federal Election Commission . He was nominated to the FEC by President George W...
appear in this case, as a result of the political sensitivity of the tribal voting issue. Schlozman is a central figure to a voting and elections controversy in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
.
Private practice
Following his resignation as U.S. Attorney, Heffelfinger was hired by the law firm Best and Flanagan wherehe will focus on white-collar criminal defense and American Indian law.