Jamie Gorelick: Public Service
Jamie Gorelick's career has spanned not only the legal and corporate worlds but also the public policy landscape. Her public service began in 1979, during the Carter Administration, when she was named Vice Chair of the Department of Defense Task Force on the Audit, Investigation and Inspection Components of the Department of Defense. From there, Jamie Gorelick was asked to serve on the transition team for the then Secretary of Energy and was appointed to serve as Special Assistant to the Secretary and Counselor to the Deputy Secretary (1979-1980).
Jamie Gorelick returned to government during the Clinton Administration where she served first as General Counsel of the Department of Defense (1993-1994). The New York Times noted at the time that Jamie Gorelick's second tour at the Pentagon was filled with challenges that she met head on: "As a 43-year-old woman with a civil liberties background, Ms. Gorelick might seem miscast for her job in the male-dominated military. But her skills as a tactician and problem-solver have impressed not only [the Secretary and the Deputy] but also the most curmudgeonly generals and admirals" (Schmitt, A13).
- View a PDF of the New York Times article on Jamie Gorelick
In 1994, Jamie Gorelick was selected to serve as Attorney General Reno's second Deputy Attorney General. She remained in office until April 1997 and was among the longest serving Deputies in history. The span of Gorelick's work was considerable, as the entire department reported through her to the Attorney General. Her responsibilities were wide-ranging, including civil rights, criminal justice, law enforcement and national security. In a profile in the Washington Post, Jamie Gorelick was described as "a tough, demanding manager, exerting influence over every policy and practice that emanates from the top." (October 19, 1995).
- Article in the New York Times called "Abroad at Home; Response To a Threat" about Jamie Gorelick discussing the role of the federal government in fighting crime (23 May 1994).
- Government Document on Jamie Gorelick's "Testimony Before The U.S. House Judiciary Committee Concerning Computer Encryption" (25 September 1996).
- Prepared Statement by Jamie Gorelick on her testimony before Congress regarding the Freedom and Security Through Encryption (Safe) Act (25 September 1996).
- Press Release regarding Jamie Gorelick's expressed opposition to legislation (part of the House Republican's "Contract with America") that would cripple the federal government's ability to investigate possible criminal activity (2 February 1995).
- Article in the New York Times called "No. 2 Official at Justice Dept. Leaving After 3 Years There" about Jamie Gorelick leaving her post as Deputy Attorney General (15 January 1997).
Since leaving full-time government service, Jamie Gorelick has continued to write on a wide range of public policy subjects, including issues facing the Bush Justice Department in its final year.
- Jamie Gorelick wrote "A New Agenda for Justice," published in the Washington Post in August, 2007.
- The American Constitution Society publishes a video of Jamie Gorelick discussing the Department of Justice.
In 1997, Jamie Gorelick was named to the Central Intelligence Agency's National Security Advisory Panel. In 2002, Jamie Gorelick was named a Commissioner on The National Commission on the Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, known as the 9/11 Commission, which completed its work in August 2004. Jamie Gorelick and her fellow commissioners were frequently interviewed about the Commission's progress. After the Commission submitted its Report, the individual Commissioners formed the 9/11 Public Discourse Project to advance the policy recommendations of the Commission. Jamie Gorelick was active in this effort, speaking across the country and testifying before Congress. Many of the Commission's recommendations were enacted into law. In recognition of their work on the Commission, Jamie Gorelick and fellow Commissioner Fred Fielding were named the Bar Association of the District of Columbia's Lawyers of the Year in 2004.
Jamie Gorelick continues to speak on issues related to terrorism.
- See Jamie Gorelick in the National Journal's "Profiles of 100 People Whose Ideas will Help Shape the Debates" (2004).
- See PBS News Hour featuring Jamie Gorelick on "Gonzales Leaves Vacancies, Low Morale at Justice Department" (2004).
Jamie Gorelick has also served on many other commissions and boards, including the Supreme Court Judicial Fellowship Commission (2003-2006); the President's Intelligence Review Panel (2001-2002); the Advisory Committee to the President's Commission on Critical Infrastructure Protection (1997-1999), of which she was Co-Chair with Senator Sam Nunn; the Department of Defense Threat Reduction Agency Advisory Council (1997-1999); The Center for Strategic and International Studies' Embassy of the Future Commission (2007); the Department of Energy Commission on Science and Security (2000-2001), and the National Commission to Support Law Enforcement (1995-1997). She is currently serving as a Senior Advisor to the The Center for Strategic and International Studies Commission on Cybersecurity for the 44th Presidency.
Jamie Gorelick's public service has been recognized by the Secretary of Defense Distinguished Service Award (1994), the Director of Central Intelligence Award (1997) , the Department of Justice Edmund J. Randolph Award (1997) and the Secretary of Energy Outstanding Service Award (1980).
Jamie Gorelick's work has also been recognized through numerous awards from organizations that concern themselves with excellence in public service, including the Wickersham Award for Exceptional Public Service and Dedication to the Legal Profession (1998), the American Jewish Committee's Judge Learned Hand Award (1999) and the Good Scout Award of the National Capital Area Boy Scouts (2008).