U.S. Attorney candidate White can't practice law in this state

Former Congressman Rick White, one of the three men whose names reportedly have been submitted as candidates for U.S. Attorney for Western Washington, is not authorized to practice law in Washington.

White's license was suspended by the state Supreme Court in August 2003 for failing to pay his bar dues. He was reinstated to the bar in 2005 after paying a small fee, but currently holds an "inactive" status.

That means he can not practice law in Washington until he pays his full bar dues, about $390, and demonstrates that he is current on required Continuing Legal Education classes, said Washington State Bar spokeswoman Judy Berrett.

Berrett said the suspension is "non-disciplinary" and that White has never been publicly disciplined by the Bar since he was first admitted in 1983.

Without an active bar license, White cannot practice law in state courts. To appear in federal court — where virtually all of the U.S. attorney's cases are heard — White will have to submit an application, be approved by a federal judge, and have a local attorney sponsor him, said Janet Bubnis, the chief deputy clerk in the U.S. District Court for Western Washington.

White, contacted at home Thursday night, said he could not talk about his situation "because the White House has very strict rules about commenting on this process.

"I understand I'm in a bad position," he said. "I wish I could explain, but I can't."

Likewise, a spokeswoman for Rep. Dave Reichert, R-Auburn, said his office would have no comment. Reichert was assigned to oversee the selection process to replace John McKay, a President Bush appointee who was fired as U.S. attorney last month.

Reichert had picked King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng to lead the panel and submit candidates. The Seattle Times reported Thursday that White was among the three candidates whose names were submitted to the White House. The others are Interim U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Sullivan and Seattle attorney Mike Vaska. Both Sullivan and Vaska are listed as "active" members of the state bar.

Maleng's spokesman, Dan Donohoe, said the prosecutor would have no comment.

White's name was among 144 names submitted to the state Supreme Court for suspension for failing to pay bar dues in August 2003. He was reinstated to "inactive" status in July 2005.

White served as the representative in the 1st Congressional District from 1995-99. For the next four years, he was chief executive officer and president of TechNet, a lobbying organization based in Silicon Valley.

Mike Carter: 206-464-3706 or mcarter@seattletimes.com