FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: BILL DUHNKE

MARCH 22, 2000
PHONE: (202) 224-1700

SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE
CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN ANNOUNCE SELECTIONS FOR COMMISSION ON
DRUG KINGPIN ACT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL) and Committee Vice Chairman Richard Bryan (D-NV) announced their appointments to the "Judicial Review Commission on Foreign Asset Control" today. The Commission was created in the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000. The panel of experts will conduct a review of the current judicial, regulatory, and administrative authorities relating to the blocking of assets of foreign persons by the United States Government. They will also conduct a detailed examination and evaluation of the remedies available to United States citizens affected by the blocking of assets of foreign persons. The Commission will submit a report to the Congressional Intelligence and Judiciary Committees upon completion of their review.
Chairman Shelby has named trial attorney David B. Smith of Alexandria, VA. Mr. Smith, a graduate of Yale Law School, is a nationally recognized authority on asset forfeiture law. He is Co-Chairman of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Forfeiture Abuse Task Force. He is a former Associate Director for the Asset Forfeiture Office in the Department of Justice's Criminal Division; Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Associate Independent Counsel; and Vice Chairman of the American Bar Association's RICO, Forfeitures, and Civil Remedies Committee. Mr. Smith is the author of Prosecution and Defense of Forfeiture Cases, and co-author of Civil RICO. He has written and lectured extensively on asset forfeiture law.
Vice Chairman Bryan has named Robert P. Dickerson of Las Vegas, NV. Mr. Dickerson, a graduate of the University of Utah School of Law, is a highly respected civil and criminal trial attorney. He is a former clerk to U.S. District Judge Roger D. Foley; Deputy Public Defender for Clark County, NV; Assistant United States Attorney; Member of the Board of Governors and President of the State Bar of Nevada; and founding member of the firm Dickerson, Dickerson, Consul & Pocker in Las Vegas.
Senator Shelby said, "Mr. Smith is a highly qualified and well respected attorney. He literally wrote the book on asset forfeiture law. I look forward to the Commission's findings and report."
Senator Bryan said, "Mr. Dickerson brings an impressive background to this endeavor, and I'm pleased he has agreed to serve on this important commission. The Chairman and I look forward to receiving the Commission's recommendations."
The Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence are expected to announce their appointments to the Commission today as well.


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