81 FR 43065 - Office for Access to Justice

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Office of the Attorney General

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 127 (July 1, 2016)

Page Range		43065-43066
FR Document		2016-15574

This rule amends the Code of Federal Regulations to reflect the establishment of the Office for Access to Justice as a distinct component of the Department of Justice. The Office for Access to Justice was created by the Attorney General to address the access-to- justice crisis in the criminal and civil justice systems. The office's mission is to help ensure that the justice system is efficient, fair, and accessible to all, irrespective of an individual's wealth and status. This rule sets forth the Office's organization, mission and functions.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 127 (Friday, July 1, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 127 (Friday, July 1, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 43065-43066]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-15574]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Office of the Attorney General

28 CFR Part 0

[AG Order No. 3691-2016]


Office for Access to Justice

AGENCY: Department of Justice.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This rule amends the Code of Federal Regulations to reflect 
the establishment of the Office for Access to Justice as a distinct 
component of the Department of Justice. The Office for Access to 
Justice was created by the Attorney General to address the access-to-
justice crisis in the criminal and civil justice systems. The office's 
mission is to help ensure that the justice system is efficient, fair, 
and accessible to all, irrespective of an individual's wealth and 
status. This rule sets forth the Office's organization, mission and 
functions.

DATES: This rule is effective July 1, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa Foster, Director, Office for 
Access to Justice, U.S. Department of Justice, RFK Main Justice 
Building, Room 3340, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20530. 
Telephone: (202) 514-5312.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    In 2010, the Attorney General established the Office for Access to 
Justice to address the access-to-justice crisis in the criminal and 
civil justice

[[Page 43066]]

systems. The office's mission is to help ensure that the justice system 
is efficient, fair, and accessible to all, irrespective of an 
individual's wealth and status. Its staff works within the Department 
of Justice, across federal agencies, and with state, local, and tribal 
justice system stakeholders to increase access to counsel and legal 
assistance and to improve the justice system for people who are unable 
to afford lawyers. This rule reflects the establishment of the Office 
for Access to Justice as a distinct component of the Department of 
Justice, and sets forth the office's organization, mission, and 
functions.

Administrative Procedure Act

    This rule is a rule of agency organization and procedure, and 
relates to the internal management of the Department of Justice. It is 
therefore exempt from the requirements of notice and comment and a 
delayed effective date. 5 U.S.C. 553(b), (d).

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Attorney General, in accordance with the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act (5 U.S.C. 605(b)), has reviewed this rule and by approving it 
certifies that this rule will not have a significant economic impact on 
a substantial number of small entities because it pertains to personnel 
and administrative matters affecting the Department. Further, a 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis was not required to be prepared for 
this final rule since the Department was not required to publish a 
general notice of proposed rulemaking for this matter. See 5 U.S.C. 
604(a).

Executive Orders 12866 and 13563: Regulatory Review

    This action has been drafted and reviewed in accordance with 
Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory Planning and Review,'' section 
1(b), The Principles of Regulation, and in accordance with Executive 
Order 13563, ``Improving Regulations and Regulatory Review,'' section 
1(b), General Principles of Regulation. This action is limited to 
agency organization, management, and personnel matters and therefore is 
not a ``regulation'' or ``rule'' under Executive Order 12866. Id. Sec.  
3(d)(3). Accordingly, this action has not been reviewed by the Office 
of Management and Budget.

Executive Order 13132: Federalism

    This rule will not have substantial direct effects on the States, 
on the relationship between the national government and the States, or 
on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various 
levels of government. Therefore, in accordance with section 6 of 
Executive Order 13132, it is determined that this rule does not have 
sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a 
federalism summary impact statement.

Executive Order 12988: Civil Justice Reform

    This rule meets the applicable standards set forth in sections 3(a) 
and 3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1955

    This rule will not result in the expenditure by State, local, and 
tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of 
$100,000,000 or more in any one year, and it does not establish 
requirements that might significantly or uniquely affect small 
governments. Therefore, no actions were deemed necessary under the 
provisions of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995.

Congressional Review Act

    This action pertains to agency management, personnel, and 
organization and does not substantially affect the rights or 
obligations of non-agency parties and, accordingly, is not a ``rule'' 
as that term is used by the Congressional Review Act (Subtitle E of the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA)). 
See 5 U.S.C. 804(3). Therefore, the reporting requirement of 5 U.S.C. 
801 does not apply.

Plain Language Instructions

    We try to write clearly. Suggestions about how to improve the 
clarity of this rule may be submitted in writing to Lisa Foster, 
Director, Office for Access to Justice.

List of Subjects in 28 CFR Part 0

    Authority delegation (Government agencies), Government employees, 
Organization and functions (Government agencies), Privacy, Reporting 
and recordkeeping requirements, Whistleblowing.

    Accordingly, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Attorney 
General, including 5 U.S.C. 301 and 28 U.S.C. 509, 510, part 0 of title 
28 of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended as follows:

PART 0--ORGANIZATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

0
1. The authority citation for part 0 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 301; 28 U.S.C. 509, 510, 515-519.


0
2. In Sec.  0.1, under the heading ``Offices'', add the title ``Office 
for Access to Justice'' to the end of the list.
0
3. Add Subpart F-1 to read as follows:

Subpart F-1--Office for Access to Justice


Sec.  0.33  Office for Access to Justice.

    The Office for Access to Justice shall be headed by a Director 
appointed by the Attorney General. The principal responsibilities of 
the Office shall be to plan, develop, and coordinate the implementation 
of access to justice policy initiatives of high priority to the 
Department and the executive branch, including in the areas of criminal 
indigent defense and civil legal aid. In addition, the Director shall:
    (a) Promote uniformity of Department of Justice and government-wide 
policies and litigation positions relating to equal access to justice;
    (b) Examine proposed legislation, proposed rules, and other policy 
proposals to ensure that access to justice principles are properly 
considered in the development of policy; and
    (c) Perform such other duties and functions as may be authorized by 
law or directed by the Attorney General, Deputy Attorney General, or 
Associate Attorney General.

    Dated: June 24, 2016.
Loretta E. Lynch,
Attorney General.
[FR Doc. 2016-15574 Filed 6-30-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4410-PN-P

43066 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 127 / Friday, July 1, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

systems. The office’s mission is to help levels of government. Therefore, in Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 28 U.S.C. 509,
ensure that the justice system is accordance with section 6 of Executive 510, 515–519.
efficient, fair, and accessible to all, Order 13132, it is determined that this ■ 2. In § 0.1, under the heading
irrespective of an individual’s wealth rule does not have sufficient federalism ‘‘Offices’’, add the title ‘‘Office for
and status. Its staff works within the implications to warrant the preparation Access to Justice’’ to the end of the list.
Department of Justice, across federal of a federalism summary impact ■ 3. Add Subpart F–1 to read as follows:
agencies, and with state, local, and statement.
tribal justice system stakeholders to Subpart F–1—Office for Access to
Executive Order 12988: Civil Justice Justice
increase access to counsel and legal
Reform
assistance and to improve the justice
§ 0.33 Office for Access to Justice.
system for people who are unable to This rule meets the applicable
afford lawyers. This rule reflects the standards set forth in sections 3(a) and The Office for Access to Justice shall
establishment of the Office for Access to 3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988. be headed by a Director appointed by
Justice as a distinct component of the the Attorney General. The principal
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of responsibilities of the Office shall be to
Department of Justice, and sets forth the
1955 plan, develop, and coordinate the
office’s organization, mission, and
functions. This rule will not result in the implementation of access to justice
expenditure by State, local, and tribal policy initiatives of high priority to the
Administrative Procedure Act Department and the executive branch,
governments, in the aggregate, or by the
This rule is a rule of agency private sector, of $100,000,000 or more including in the areas of criminal
organization and procedure, and relates in any one year, and it does not indigent defense and civil legal aid. In
to the internal management of the establish requirements that might addition, the Director shall:
Department of Justice. It is therefore significantly or uniquely affect small (a) Promote uniformity of Department
exempt from the requirements of notice governments. Therefore, no actions were of Justice and government-wide policies
and comment and a delayed effective deemed necessary under the provisions and litigation positions relating to equal
date. 5 U.S.C. 553(b), (d). of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act access to justice;
of 1995. (b) Examine proposed legislation,
Regulatory Flexibility Act proposed rules, and other policy
The Attorney General, in accordance Congressional Review Act proposals to ensure that access to justice
with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 principles are properly considered in
This action pertains to agency
U.S.C. 605(b)), has reviewed this rule the development of policy; and
management, personnel, and
and by approving it certifies that this (c) Perform such other duties and
organization and does not substantially
rule will not have a significant functions as may be authorized by law
affect the rights or obligations of non-
economic impact on a substantial or directed by the Attorney General,
agency parties and, accordingly, is not
number of small entities because it Deputy Attorney General, or Associate
a ‘‘rule’’ as that term is used by the
pertains to personnel and administrative Attorney General.
Congressional Review Act (Subtitle E of
matters affecting the Department. Dated: June 24, 2016.
the Small Business Regulatory
Further, a Regulatory Flexibility Loretta E. Lynch,
Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996
Analysis was not required to be
(SBREFA)). See 5 U.S.C. 804(3). Attorney General.
prepared for this final rule since the
Therefore, the reporting requirement of [FR Doc. 2016–15574 Filed 6–30–16; 8:45 am]
Department was not required to publish
5 U.S.C. 801 does not apply. BILLING CODE 4410–PN–P
a general notice of proposed rulemaking
for this matter. See 5 U.S.C. 604(a). Plain Language Instructions
Executive Orders 12866 and 13563: We try to write clearly. Suggestions DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Regulatory Review about how to improve the clarity of this
This action has been drafted and rule may be submitted in writing to Lisa Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
reviewed in accordance with Executive Foster, Director, Office for Access to
Order 12866, ‘‘Regulatory Planning and Justice. 30 CFR Parts 550 and 553
Review,’’ section 1(b), The Principles of List of Subjects in 28 CFR Part 0 [Docket ID: BOEM–2016–0055;
Regulation, and in accordance with MMAA104000]
Executive Order 13563, ‘‘Improving Authority delegation (Government
agencies), Government employees, RIN 1010–AD95
Regulations and Regulatory Review,’’
section 1(b), General Principles of Organization and functions
(Government agencies), Privacy, Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in
Regulation. This action is limited to the Outer Continental Shelf—Civil
agency organization, management, and Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Whistleblowing. Penalties Inflation Adjustments
personnel matters and therefore is not a
‘‘regulation’’ or ‘‘rule’’ under Executive Accordingly, by virtue of the AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy
Order 12866. Id. § 3(d)(3). Accordingly, authority vested in me as Attorney Management, Interior.
this action has not been reviewed by the General, including 5 U.S.C. 301 and 28 ACTION: Interim final rule.
Office of Management and Budget. U.S.C. 509, 510, part 0 of title 28 of the
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES

Code of Federal Regulations is amended SUMMARY: This rule adjusts the level of
Executive Order 13132: Federalism civil monetary penalties contained in
as follows:
This rule will not have substantial the Bureau of Ocean Energy
direct effects on the States, on the PART 0—ORGANIZATION OF THE Management (BOEM) regulations
relationship between the national DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE pursuant to the Outer Continental Shelf
government and the States, or on the Lands Act, the Oil Pollution Act of
distribution of power and ■ 1. The authority citation for part 0 1990, the Federal Civil Penalties
responsibilities among the various continues to read as follows: Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements

VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:44 Jun 30, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00084 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\01JYR1.SGM 01JYR1

Document Created: 2016-07-14 11:37:30
Document Modified: 2016-07-14 11:37:30

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Rules and Regulations
Action		Final rule.
Dates		This rule is effective July 1, 2016.
Contact		Lisa Foster, Director, Office for Access to Justice, U.S. Department of Justice, RFK Main Justice Building, Room 3340, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20530. Telephone: (202) 514-5312.
FR Citation		81 FR 43065
CFR Associated		Authority Delegation (government Agencies); Government Employees; Organization and Functions (government Agencies); Privacy; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements and Whistleblowing

81 FR 43065 - Office for Access to Justice

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICEOffice of the Attorney General

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 127 (July 1, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Office of the Attorney General