Governor Terry McAuliffe, Executive Office-Counselor's Office, Records 2001-2006; 2008; 2010-2018 (bulk 2014-2017)

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888

Summary

Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

The Governor Terry McAuliffe, Executive Office-Counselor's Office, Records are housed in 36 boxes. The collection is arranged into five (5) series. Series have been designated for: I. Clemency Files; II. Judicial Appointments; III. Regulatory Decisions; IV. Executive Orders and Directives; and V. Correspondence and Subject Files. These records include agendas, agreements, applications, budget documents, correspondence, e-mail, executive orders, handouts, legal briefs, legal files, legislative files, meeting notes, memorandums, note pads, petitions and reports.

This collection documents the actions of Governor McAuliffe's Counselor's Office between 2014 and 2018. Topics include denied clemency requests for Alfred R. Prieto (executed 1 October 2015), Ricky Javon Gray (executed 18 January 2017) and William Morva (executed 6 July 2017); granted clemency requests for William Joseph Burns (granted 29 December 2017) and Ivan Teleguz (granted 20 April 2017); Jens Soering petition for international prisoner transfer to Germany; the selection and appointment by Governor McAuliffe of Judge Jane M. Roush to the Supreme Court of Virginia; the McAuliffe administration's attempt to expand Medicaid; and litigation related to Governor McAuliffe's 2016 restoration of rights order, redistricting, and former Governor Robert F. McDonnell.

Biographical / historical:

The Executive Office is a division of the Office of the Governor in the Executive Branch of Virginia state government. Members of the Executive Office include the Governor, Chief of Staff, Counsel to the Governor and their assistants. On 6 January 2014, Governor-elect Terry McAuliffe appointed Carlos Hopkins as counselor to the governor. In this Cabinet-level position, Hopkins advised the Governor on the impact current federal and state law may have on the Governor's policy proposals. He also provided advice on executive orders, state contracts, extraditions and pardons, administrative regulations, and other executive branch matters.

On 1 August 2017, Governor McAuliffe appointed Hopkins as Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs effective 1 September.

Prior to assuming his position as Counsel to the Governor, Hopkins was a Deputy City Attorney for the City of Richmond, focusing on tax assessment and eminent domain litigation as well as public safety. He was instrumental in bringing together members of the administration and Council staff to address the issues surrounding the reclamation of derelict properties in the City.

Between 1997 and 2005, Hopkins served seven years as a prosecutor in the City of Richmond where, as a Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney he supervised the office's narcotics and Project Exile prosecutions, working closely with his federal counterparts to stem the flow of drugs and illegal firearms in the City. As the Deputy in charge of the office's Manchester Courthouse Division, he supervised the prosecution of all cases occurring within the City of Richmond south of the James River. He also prosecuted a broad range of felonies including capital murder, rape and numerous drug and firearm offenses.

In 2006, Hopkins left his private practice when he was asked to serve as the Training Director for the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission, the state agency that manages Virginia's public defender system. The agency also determines the eligibility criteria for court appointed counsel-those attorneys who provide a legal defense for indigent persons accused of crimes that carry a potential penalty of incarceration or death.

In addition to his civilian legal experiences, Hopkins is also a Lieutenant Colonel in Virginia's National Guard where he currently served as the deputy chief legal advisor to the Commanding General of the 29th Infantry Division located at Fort Belvoir. From 2008-2009, he deployed as the Chief of Military Justice as part of Joint Task Force Guantanamo to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Hopkins is a graduate of The Citadel in Charleston, SC, where he graduated with a degree in political science. He received his law degree from the University Of Richmond School Of Law and is licensed by the Virginia State Bar. [Biography from Carlos Hopkins' electronic records.]

The Counselor was assisted in these responsibilities by a Deputy Counselor. The following individuals held this position during Governor McAuliffe's administration (2014-2018): Tracy Retchin (January 2014-May 2015, Noah Sullivan (May 2015-August 2017) and Jae K. Davenport (September 2017 to January 2018).

Governor McAuliffe appointed Noah Sullivan Counsel to the Governor on 1 September 2017. Previously, he served as Deputy Counsel to the Governor. Prior to joining the Governor's office, he was an associate at the law firm Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher LLP in Washington, DC. He previously worked at Dominion Energy in corporate public policy. Noah is a native of Lynchburg, Virginia. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Government from the University of Virginia, graduating with Highest Distinction. While at U.Va., Noah also served as Student Body President. Noah received his JD from Stanford Law School. [Biography from 1 September 2017 press release.]

Other staff of the Counselor's Office during the McAuliffe administration include: Jasmine Jackson, Confidential Assistant (January 2014-June 2016) and Khaki LaRiviere, Confidential Assistant (July 2016-July 2017).

Acquisition information:
Office of the Governor, Patrick Henry Building, 1111 E. Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, 23219, accession 52176 transferred on 12 January 2018 and accessioned on 17 January 2018.
Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into the following series:

  • I. Clemency Files, 2010-2017;
  • II. Judicial Appointments, 2014-2017 (bulk 2015);
  • III. Regulatory Decisions, 2014-2018;
  • IV. Executive Orders and Directives, 2001; 2010-2018;
  • V. Correspondence and Subject Files, 2002-2006; 2008; 2010-2017 (bulk 2014-2017).
Physical description:
20.71 cu. ft. (36 boxes)