PEREGRINE D. RUSSELL-HUNTER

As the Chief Department Counsel at the Defense Office of Hearings & Appeals, Mr. Russell-Hunter is responsible for the supervision of all of DOHA’s trial attorneys known as Department Counsel presenting Government’s case at Industrial Security Clearance hearings. He is also responsible for the supervision of all of DOHA’s Attorney-Advisors, review of appellate briefs after trial by each Department Counsel, and education and training of Department Counsel in trial advocacy skills. Mr. Russell-Hunter was appointed Chief Department Counsel in early 1996, after serving as Deputy Chief Department Counsel in the second half of 1995. Prior to becoming Deputy Chief Department Counsel, Mr. Russell-Hunter served for four years as one of the Department Counsel presenting the Government’s case at Industrial Security Clearance hearings and writing post-hearing appellate briefs. He has served on the DSS Integrated Product Teams and Customer Assessment Teams and has frequently provided training on the DOHA hearing process to DSS field elements as part of continuing education seminars, to students in the basic adjudicators course, advanced adjudication seminars, and to various Chapters of the Industrial Security Awareness Council. He has been awarded the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service.

Mr. Russell-Hunter is also an Adjunct Professor of Law at the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. where he teaches trial advocacy and civil litigation. Mr. Russell-Hunter is also on the faculty of the non-profit National Institute for Trial Advocacy program where he teaches trial advocacy and deposition skills to practicing attorneys. The courses cover examining witnesses, handling exhibits, ethics, and other advocacy skills. Mr. Russell-Hunter is also a charter member of the Federal American Inn of Court in Washington, D.C. (1990), where, first as a “Barrister” -- and later as a “Master”-- he has been teaching litigation and trial advocacy skills to practicing attorneys and law students (In the American Inns of Court, instruction by judges and practicing senior attorneys emphasizes ethics and civility in trial advocacy). He is currently the President-elect of the Federal American Inn of Court, as well as the Chair of its Program Committee.

Prior to his federal service with the Department of Defense, Mr. Russell-Hunter practiced with the law firm of Pepper, Hamilton & Scheetz in Washington, D.C. His work there included general civil litigation in federal court. While there, Mr. Russell-Hunter helped conduct a litigation training program for summer associates with emphasis on trial advocacy skills. Prior to his practice with the law firm of Pepper, Hamilton & Scheetz, Mr. Russell-Hunter was employed by the law firm of Levin & Funkhouser, Ltd. in Chicago, Illinois. At Levin & Funkhouser, Mr. Russell-Hunter was involved in all phases of general civil litigation in federal court.

Mr. Russell-Hunter graduated magna cum laude from Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York, with a Bachelor of Arts degree with majors in both English and Political Science. While at Syracuse, Mr. Russell-Hunter was Phi Beta Kappa and received the Senior Leadership Award and the James F. Reynolds Award in Political Science. Mr. Russell-Hunter received his Juris Doctor, or law degree, from Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago where he served on the school’s Moot Court Board and practiced in the Legal Clinic.

Mr. Russell-Hunter is a member of both the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and District of Columbia Bars. His office number is (703) 696-4751 (Ext. 119). His e-mail address is russellp@osdgc.osd.mil.