Hampton Dellinger

{{Short description|American lawyer and politician (born 1967)}} {{use mdy dates |date=August 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Hampton Dellinger | image = Hampton Dellinger, Assistant Attorney General.jpg | caption = Official portrait, 2022 | office = Special Counsel of the United States | president = Joe Biden<br/>Donald Trump | term_start = March 6, 2024 | term_end = March 5, 2025{{efn|Dismissed by President Trump, February 7, 2025. Ordered reinstated by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, February 10, 2025. District court order vacated, effecting Dellinger's dismissal, March 5, 2025.}}<ref name = "appeals" >{{cite court |litigants=Dellinger v. Bessent |litigants-force-plain= |vol= |reporter= |opinion= |pinpoint= |court=United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit |date=March 5, 2025 |url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25552101-dellingercadcord030525/ |quote= This order gives effect to the removal of appellee from his position as Special Counsel of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel. |postscript= }}</ref> | predecessor = Henry Kerner | successor = Doug Collins (acting) | office1 = United States Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy | term_start1 = November 1, 2021 | term_end1 = June 15, 2023<ref>https://www.justice.gov/archives/olp/staff-profile/former-assistant-attorney-general-office-legal-policy-hampton-y-dellinger</ref> | president1 = Joe Biden | predecessor1 = Beth Ann Williams | successor1 = Aaron Reitz | birth_name = Hampton Yeats Dellinger | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|04|30}} | birth_place = Oxford, Mississippi, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = Democratic | spouse = {{marriage|Jolynn Childers|September 10, 1994}} | relations = Walter Dellinger (father) | education = University of Michigan (BA)<br>Yale University (JD) }}

'''Hampton Yeats Dellinger''' (born April 30, 1967)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Our Campaigns - Candidate - Hampton Dellinger|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=76796|access-date=2021-06-18|website=www.ourcampaigns.com}}</ref> is an American lawyer who served as Special Counsel of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel until fired by President Donald Trump. Initially dismissed on February 7, 2025, Dellinger sued to keep his job and gained rulings by a federal district court judge preventing his immediate dismissal.<ref name="JR" /> However, on March 5, 2025, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit lifted the injunction imposed by the district court, allowing his dismissal,<ref name = "appeals" /><ref name = "march 5 times"/> and the next day Dellinger dropped the legal action to keep his job.<ref name = "drop">{{cite news|title= Head of federal whistleblower office drops legal battle challenging his firing|first1=Jacob|last1=Rosen|first2=Melissa|last2=Quinn|date=March 6, 2025|access-date=March 6, 2025|publisher=CBS News|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/special-counsel-whistleblower-office-trump-firing-hampton-dellinger/}}</ref>

Dellinger previously served as the United States Assistant Attorney General for Legal Policy and had been a partner at Boies, Schiller & Flexner<ref>{{cite news |last=Baxter |first=Brian |date=December 22, 2014 |title=In Partner Promotions, Boies Schiller Sees Its Future|url=http://www.americanlawyer.com/id=1202713185816/In-Partner-Promotions-Boies-Schiller-Sees-Its-Future-?slreturn=20161109165031 |newspaper=The American Lawyer |access-date=December 9, 2016}}</ref> and at Robinson, Bradshaw, and Hinson.

== Education and early career == Dellinger's father, Walter E. Dellinger, served as the solicitor general for the United States from 1996 to 1997.<ref>{{Cite web|date=February 16, 2022|title=Walter Dellinger, influential scholar and lawyer, dies at 80|url=https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-bill-clinton-north-carolina-durham-f6bc6d82d32ff819bcd9a120947155c0|access-date=February 16, 2022|website=AP NEWS|language=en}}</ref>

Dellinger earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan and a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School.<ref name="nominations">{{cite web |date=June 18, 2021 |title=President Biden Announces Five Key Nominations |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/06/18/president-biden-announces-five-key-nominations-2/ |access-date=June 18, 2021 |website=The White House |language=en-US}}</ref> Dellinger clerked for Judge James Dickson Phillips Jr. of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.<ref name="nominations" />

From January 2001 to June 2003, he served as legal counsel for North Carolina Governor Mike Easley. From July 2001 to June 2003, he also served as a member of the governor's advisory council on Hispanic-Latino affairs.<ref name="Questionnaire">{{cite web |title=Questionnaire for Non-Judicial Nominees |url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Dellinger%2006292021%20SJC%20Public%20Questionnaire%20Final.pdf |access-date=July 28, 2021 |publisher=United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary}}</ref>

From July 2003 to January 2008, he was a partner with the firm Womble Carlyle. From 2008 to 2013, Dellinger was a lawyer in the office of Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson. From 2013 to 2020, he was a partner at the Washington, D.C. office of Boies Schiller Flexner LLP.<ref name="Questionnaire" /> He practiced as a solo practitioner from 2020 to 2021.

He was a candidate for the 2008 Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor of North Carolina. In his first run for elective office, he lost the Democratic primary on May 6, 2008 to Walter H. Dalton.<ref>{{Cite web|newspaper=Winston-Salem Journal |url=https://journalnow.com/pittenger-dalton-will-compete-for-lieutenant-governor/article_3627243e-1cd9-5c47-be3a-0ee204d84579.html |title= Pittenger, Dalton will compete for lieutenant governor |date=May 7, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819090503/https://journalnow.com/pittenger-dalton-will-compete-for-lieutenant-governor/article_3627243e-1cd9-5c47-be3a-0ee204d84579.html |access-date=August 19, 2021 |archive-date=August 19, 2021 }}</ref>

In 2009, Senator Kay Hagan recommended Dellinger and two other lawyers to President Barack Obama for consideration as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina. Obama eventually nominated attorney Thomas Walker.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-11-30 |title=President Obama Nominates Four U.S Attorneys |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/president-obama-nominates-four-us-attorneys-0 |access-date=2021-06-18 |website=White House |language=en}}</ref>

== Federal government career == On June 18, 2021, he was nominated by President Biden to serve as the United States Department of Justice's Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy.<ref>{{Cite press release|date=June 18, 2021|title=President Biden Announces Five Key Nominations|url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/06/18/president-biden-announces-five-key-nominations-2/|website=The White House|access-date=March 9, 2024}}</ref> On July 28, 2021, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 28, 2021|title=Nominations|url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee-activity/hearings/07/21/2021/nominations|website=judiciary.senate.gov|access-date=March 9, 2024}}</ref> On September 23, 2021, his nomination was reported out of committee by a 13–8–1 vote.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Results%20of%20Executive%20Business%20Meeting%20September%2023%2020211.pdf|title=Results of Executive Business Meeting – September 23, 2021|publisher=United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|access-date=March 9, 2024}}</ref> On October 27, 2021, the United States Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 51–45 vote.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1171/vote_117_1_00440.htm|title=On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture: Hampton Y. Dellinger to be an Assistant Attorney General)}}</ref> On October 28, 2021, Dellinger was confirmed by a 53–37 vote.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1171/vote_117_1_00445.htm|title=On the Nomination (Confirmation: Hampton Y. Dellinger, of North Carolina, to be an Assistant Attorney General)}}</ref> He was sworn in on November 1, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-12-14|title=Meet the Assistant Attorney General|url=https://www.justice.gov/olp/staff-profile/meet-assistant-attorney-general|access-date=2021-11-07|website=www.justice.gov|language=en}}</ref>

On October 3, 2023, Dellinger was nominated to be the next Special Counsel of the United States.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=President Biden Announces Hampton Dellinger as Nominee for Special Counsel, Office of the Special Counsel |date=October 3, 2023 |publisher=The White House |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/10/03/president-biden-announces-hampton-dellinger-as-nominee-for-special-counsel-office-of-the-special-counsel/ |access-date=October 3, 2023}}</ref> On November 30, 2023, a hearing on his nomination was held before the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 30, 2023|title=Nominations|url=https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/hearings/nominations-4/|website=hsgac.senate.gov|access-date=March 9, 2024}}</ref> On January 17, 2024, his nomination was reported out of committee by a 7–1 vote.<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 17, 2024|title=Memo|url=https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/Committee-Record-2024-01-17.pdf|website=hsgac.senate.gov|access-date=March 9, 2024}}</ref> On February 27, 2024, the United States Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 51–46 vote.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1182/vote_118_2_00053.htm|title=On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture: Hampton Y. Dellinger to be Special Counsel, Office of Special Counsel)|website=United States Senate|date=February 27, 2024|access-date=March 9, 2024}}</ref> He was confirmed later that day by a 49–47 vote.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1182/vote_118_2_00054.htm|title=On the Nomination (Confirmation: Hampton Y. Dellinger, of North Carolina, to be Special Counsel, Office of Special Counsel)|website=United States Senate|date=February 27, 2024|access-date=March 9, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2024-02-27|title=New Lead Confirmed For Watchdog Office For Fed. Employees|url=https://www.law360.com/pulse/dc-pulse/articles/1807113/new-lead-confirmed-for-watchdog-office-for-fed-employees-|access-date=2024-02-27|website=www.law360.com|language=en}}</ref> He was sworn in on March 6, 2024.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://osc.gov/News/Pages/Press%20Release%20Template1.aspx |title=Hampton Dellinger Sworn In as Special Counsel of OSC |date=2024-03-06 |publisher=United States Office of Special Counsel |access-date=2024-03-17}}</ref>

On February 7, 2025, President Donald Trump fired Dellinger, giving no reason for the removal. On February 10, Dellinger sued, alleging Trump had ignored a federal law that a special counsel can only be fired due to "inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/02/10/nx-s1-5292259/hampton-dellinger-trump-special-counsel |title=Federal ethics official sues after purported Trump firing |date=2025-02-20 |publisher=National Public Radio |access-date=2025-02-10}}</ref> Judge Amy Berman Jackson issued a temporary stay requiring Dellinger to be restored to office pending further legal action.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gerstein |first=Josh |date=2025-02-10 |title=Judge to Trump-terminated ethics watchdog: You're un-fired |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/10/judge-trump-ethics-watchdog-unfired-00203503 |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}</ref> On February 16, the Justice Department opened an emergency appeal with the Supreme Court seeking to lift the temporary order, arguing that it is an unacceptable intrusion on executive power.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Liptak |first=Adam |date=2025-02-16 |title=First Test of Trump's Power to Fire Officials Reaches Supreme Court |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/16/us/trump-supreme-court-special-counsel.html |access-date=2025-02-16 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-16 |title=Trump administration wants Supreme Court to permit firing of whistleblower agency head - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-administration-supreme-court-permit-firing-whistleblower-agency-head/ |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref> The Court agreed to hear the case on an emergency basis. Arguments on ''Bessent v. Dellinger'' began within days.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/bessent-v-dellinger/|title=Bessent v. Dellinger|publisher=SCOTUSBlog|access-date=February 18, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=First Test of Trump's Power to Fire Officials Reaches Supreme Court|newspaper=New York Times|access-date=February 18, 2025|author=Adam Liptak|date=February 16, 2025|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/16/us/trump-supreme-court-special-counsel.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://media.cadc.uscourts.gov/orders/docs/2025/02/25-5028LDSD.pdf|access-date=February 18, 2025|title=USCA Case #25-5028|date=February 15, 2025}}</ref> On February 21, the Supreme Court declined to grant the emergency appeal in a 5-4 decision, holding the case in abeyance until February 26, when the temporary stay is set to expire.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fritze |first=John |date=2025-02-21 |title=Supreme Court rules that government watchdog fired by Trump may temporarily remain on the job |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/21/politics/supreme-court-trump-dellinger/index.html |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>

On March 1, 2025, Judge Berman issued a ruling that Dellinger's firing was unlawful and that he was to be fully reinstated in his job.<ref name="JR">{{Cite web |last=Richer |first=Alanna Durkin |date=2025-03-02 |title=Judge rules head of watchdog agency must keep his job, says Trump's bid to oust him was unlawful |url=https://apnews.com/article/trump-special-counsel-dellinger-whistleblower-firing-cdeb3bf8f2ce9175b03f4c3961a0ce88 |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref> The Trump administration appealed the ruling.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/federal-judge-rules-trumps-firing-head-special-counsel-unlawful-maintain-his-job|title=Federal judge rules Trump's firing of head of special counsel was unlawful, will maintain his job|author=Haley Chi-Sing|publisher=Fox News|date=March 1, 2025}}</ref> The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on March 5, 2025 lifted the stay imposed by the district court, allowing his dismissal.<ref name = "appeals" /><ref name = "march 5 times">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/03/05/us/trump-news/appeals-court-rules-trump-can-remove-federal-ethics-watchdog?smid=url-share|url-access=subscription|date=March 5, 2025|access-date=March 6, 2025|newspaper=The New York Times|first=Zach|last=Montague|title=Appeals court rules Trump can remove federal ethics watchdog}}</ref> Dellinger then dropped his lawsuit, accepting his dismissal.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Polantz |first=Katelyn |date=2025-03-06 |title=Federal watchdog removed by Trump drops his case, citing long odds of winning at Supreme Court {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/06/politics/fired-federal-watchdog-trump-case-dropped |access-date=2025-11-10 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>

== Personal life == Dellinger is the son of the law professor and former acting Solicitor General of the United States, Walter E. Dellinger III.<ref name="Questionnaire" /> He married Jolynn Childers on September 10, 1994.<ref>{{cite news |title=WEDDINGS; Jolynn Childers, H. Y. Dellinger |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/11/style/weddings-jolynn-childers-h-y-dellinger.html |access-date=May 27, 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=September 11, 1994}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

== Footnotes == {{notelist}}

== External links == *[http://www.bsfllp.com/lawyers/data/2009 Boies, Schiller & Flexner profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220101022/http://www.bsfllp.com/lawyers/data/2009 |date=December 20, 2016 }} *[http://projects.newsobserver.com/profiles/hampton_dellinger News & Observer profile page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503061138/http://projects.newsobserver.com/profiles/hampton_dellinger |date=May 3, 2008 }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dellinger, Hampton}} Category:1967 births Category:Living people Category:North Carolina Democrats Category:North Carolina lawyers Category:People from Oxford, Mississippi Category:University of Michigan alumni Category:Yale Law School alumni Category:Boies Schiller Flexner people Category:Biden administration personnel Category:United States assistant attorneys general for the Office of Legal Policy