An editor has nominated this article for deletion. You are welcome to participate in the deletion discussion , which will decide whether or not to retain it. |
![]() | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page . (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
|
J. Rene Josey | |
---|---|
United States Attorney for the District of South Carolina | |
In office 1996–2001 | |
President | Bill Clinton |
Preceded by | Pete Strom |
Succeeded by | James Strom Thurmond Jr. |
Personal details | |
Born | 1960 Jackson,Mississippi |
Education | Clemson University (BA) University of South Carolina School of Law (JD) |
Jon Rene Josey (born 1960) is an American lawyer. He served as the United States attorney for the District of South Carolina during the second term of President Bill Clinton.
Josey received his BA at Clemson University in 1982 and completed his JD Degree and admission to the Bar at the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1985.
Josey served from 1985 to 1987 as a law clerk for Charles Weston Houck,United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina.In 1987 he became an Associate with Rogers &McBratney and in 1991 rose to partner. In 1994 Josey operated a sole law practice in Florence,SC [1]
With the retirement of J. Preston 'Pete' Strom [2] ,Josey was recommendation by Senator Fritz Hollings to the role of US Attorney for South Carolina,and nominated by President Bill Clinton. [3] With a motion by Senator Strom Thurmond,Josey became the state's US Attorney in 1996,in the typical tradition of allowing US Senators to choose candidates to put forward from their states. [4]
During this period,Josey. as chair of the United States Department of Justice Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee (LECC),launched the Ernest F. Hollings Awards for Excellence in State Prosecution in 1997. [5] The LECC is a bi-partisan group tasked with reviewing local,state and federal law enforcement needs. [6]
Josey oversaw the prosecution of two members of the Ku Klux Klan responsible for the Macedonia Baptist Church arson. [7] Josey commented,"They can scorch our churches but they cannot break the spirit of the community." [8] President Clinton made resolving the situation of church burnings a policy priority during that year. [9] [10] [11] [12]
Josey oversaw the prosecution of a South Carolina man who made threats against President Clinton and Chelsea,the daughter of the President and First Lady Hillary Clinton. [13]
During the investigation of the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal,South Carolina attorney Kendall Few filed a complaint with Josey's office against independent counsel Ken Starr,regarding Starr's alleged effort to conceal perjury during a General Motors case. This complaint was among others filed against Starr by Sen. Robert Torricelli,Rep. John Conyers and attorneys of Monica Lewinsky. [14] [15]
During the 1998 reauthorization of the Department of Justice Committee on the Judiciary hearing,US House member Bob Inglis expressed concerns to Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder about Josey's attentions to the Ken Starr matter,rather than prioritizing investigations of alleged organized crime around video poker in South Carolina. Holder reaffirmed confidence in Josey's handling of this and other South Carolina matters. [16]
In 2001,at the end of his tenure as US Attorney for South Carolina with the election of George W. Bush,Josey joined Turner,Padgett,Graham and Laney,where he is currently employed. [17]
Josey's recognitions include: