[ncdnhc-discuss] Conflict of interest

[Harold J. Feld]

Dave Crocker wrote:

>James,

>Before a government employee is "allowed" to vote, must they first get 
>official permission of the government that they work for?

>And to the extent that you consider this comparison invalid, please explain 
>how. 

Actually, when I was a Federal employee, I had to abide by significant restrictions on my participation in the democratic processes and the legal profession.  I could not make statements to the press on matters pertaining to my agency's work, I could not represent parties in federal court on matters related to my agency's work.  I could not endorse political candidate.  Public speaking engagements on anthing related to the matters regulated needed to be approved in advance by the agency, my law review articles had to go through review, and accepting honoraria was prohibitted (this last was also later struck down).

Harold Feld