John Hardin Young
Encyclopedia
John "Jack" Hardin Young is a trial lawyer who has a reputation for work in election law and electoral recounts. He was on the team of lawyers for the Democratic National Committee
during the 2000 Florida election recount
and the Bush v. Gore
case, and is portrayed in the HBO film "Recount"
. He is widely known for being the first advocate for a statewide recount strategy that could have resulted in a win for Gore.
Young is currently a partner at Sandler, Reiff & Young where he focuses on election law, including regulatory policy, corporate litigation, and dispute resolution. Young currently serves on the Board of Governors for the American Bar Association
. Young is also a professor at The College of William & Mary Law School and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law
. He is rumored to be a member of the Order of the First Families of Virginia
.
during the Florida Recount in 2000. He is portrayed by Steve DuMouchel in the HBO film Recount
. He urged the team to recount the ballots in every single precinct, not just the three counties that were initially selected.
His experience on the 2000 recount inspired him to create the now national Promote the Vote (PTV) program. This program, launched by Young in the Virginia 2001 gubernatorial campaign, placed Democratic attorneys on-site at the polls statewide to help resolve voter registration and ballot concers quickly and effectively. The DNC
adpopted the PTV program for the 2004 presidential election, when thousands of attorneys volunteered across the country. It remains in effect today, and is credited for helping secure Obama's victory.
He also worked on the recount that occurred in the 2005 Virginia Attorney General race between Bob McDonnell (R) and Democratic state senator Creigh Deeds
(D). McDonnell won by 323 votes in an election in which 1.94 million votes were cast. He was instrumental in the 2008 recount of the election between Tom Perriello
and Virgil Goode
in Virginia’s 5th Congressional District, and also worked on the recount for the 1989 election of Douglas Wilder
, who became the first African American governor of Virginia.
In 2000, Young served as general counsel to the Office of Administration
in the Executive Office of the President. From 1985 until 1995, Young was a member of the U.S. Secretary of State’s Advisory Committee on Private International Law. Prior to that, he provided trial counsel at the United States Department of Labor
(1981–1982). Young served as Assistant Attorney General of Virginia from 1976-1978. During that time, Young also served as Counsel to the Virginia State Board of Elections (1976–1978).
Additionally, he currently sits on the Advisory Committee of the Election Law Program at William & Mary Law School.
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
during the 2000 Florida election recount
Florida election recount
The Florida election recount of 2000 was a period of vote re-counting that occurred following the unclear results of the 2000 United States presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore, specifically the Florida results. The election was ultimately settled in favor of George W. Bush when...
and the Bush v. Gore
Bush v. Gore
Bush v. Gore, , is the landmark United States Supreme Court decision on December 12, 2000, that effectively resolved the 2000 presidential election in favor of George W. Bush. Only eight days earlier, the United States Supreme Court had unanimously decided the closely related case of Bush v...
case, and is portrayed in the HBO film "Recount"
Recount (film)
Recount is a 2008 made-for-TV film about the 2000 Presidential election in the United States. The political drama was written by Danny Strong, directed by Jay Roach, and produced by Kevin Spacey, who also stars in the film....
. He is widely known for being the first advocate for a statewide recount strategy that could have resulted in a win for Gore.
Young is currently a partner at Sandler, Reiff & Young where he focuses on election law, including regulatory policy, corporate litigation, and dispute resolution. Young currently serves on the Board of Governors for the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
. Young is also a professor at The College of William & Mary Law School and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law
University of Pittsburgh School of Law
The University of Pittsburgh School of Law was founded in 1895, and became a charter member of the Association of American Law Schools in 1900...
. He is rumored to be a member of the Order of the First Families of Virginia
First Families of Virginia
First Families of Virginia were those families in Colonial Virginia who were socially prominent and wealthy, but not necessarily the earliest settlers. They originated with colonists from England who primarily settled at Jamestown, Williamsburg, and along the James River and other navigable waters...
.
Recounts
Young is an expert on electoral recounts, domestic and international. He was part of the team of lawyers working with Al GoreAl Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
during the Florida Recount in 2000. He is portrayed by Steve DuMouchel in the HBO film Recount
Recount (film)
Recount is a 2008 made-for-TV film about the 2000 Presidential election in the United States. The political drama was written by Danny Strong, directed by Jay Roach, and produced by Kevin Spacey, who also stars in the film....
. He urged the team to recount the ballots in every single precinct, not just the three counties that were initially selected.
His experience on the 2000 recount inspired him to create the now national Promote the Vote (PTV) program. This program, launched by Young in the Virginia 2001 gubernatorial campaign, placed Democratic attorneys on-site at the polls statewide to help resolve voter registration and ballot concers quickly and effectively. The DNC
DNC
DNC may refer to:*Daigaku Nyūshi Center, a Japanese Independent Administrative Institution which administers the National Center Test for University Admissions...
adpopted the PTV program for the 2004 presidential election, when thousands of attorneys volunteered across the country. It remains in effect today, and is credited for helping secure Obama's victory.
He also worked on the recount that occurred in the 2005 Virginia Attorney General race between Bob McDonnell (R) and Democratic state senator Creigh Deeds
Creigh Deeds
Robert Creigh Deeds is an American politician who was the Democratic nominee for Governor of Virginia in 2009. He also ran in the 2005 race for Attorney General of Virginia. He was defeated in both of the above races by Bob McDonnell. Deeds lost by just 323 votes in 2005, but was defeated by a...
(D). McDonnell won by 323 votes in an election in which 1.94 million votes were cast. He was instrumental in the 2008 recount of the election between Tom Perriello
Tom Perriello
Thomas Stuart Price "Tom" Perriello is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2009 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes much of Southside Virginia and stretches north to Charlottesville....
and Virgil Goode
Virgil Goode
Virgil Hamlin Goode, Jr. , is an American politician, last serving as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives. He represented the 5th congressional district of Virginia from 1997 to 2009...
in Virginia’s 5th Congressional District, and also worked on the recount for the 1989 election of Douglas Wilder
Douglas Wilder
Lawrence Douglas "Doug" Wilder is an American politician, the first African American to be elected as governor of Virginia, and the second to serve as governor of a U.S. state. Wilder served as the 66th Governor of Virginia from 1990 to 1994. When earlier elected as Lieutenant Governor, he was...
, who became the first African American governor of Virginia.
Career
Young was a partner for many years at Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur, in Washington, D.C., where he was primarily responsible for commercial litigation and technology practice groups. In addition, he worked on technology company formation and capitalization, administrative law matters, business and tax litigation, and antitrust counseling.In 2000, Young served as general counsel to the Office of Administration
Office of Administration
The Office of Administration is an entity within the Executive Office of the President tasked with overseeing the general administration of the entire Executive Office.-History:...
in the Executive Office of the President. From 1985 until 1995, Young was a member of the U.S. Secretary of State’s Advisory Committee on Private International Law. Prior to that, he provided trial counsel at the United States Department of Labor
United States Department of Labor
The United States Department of Labor is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics. Many U.S. states also have such departments. The...
(1981–1982). Young served as Assistant Attorney General of Virginia from 1976-1978. During that time, Young also served as Counsel to the Virginia State Board of Elections (1976–1978).
Additionally, he currently sits on the Advisory Committee of the Election Law Program at William & Mary Law School.
Books
- International Election Principles: Democracy and the Rule of Law (editor and author, ABA 2009)
- Written and Electronic Discovery: Theory and Practice (with T. Zall & A. Blakley, Nat'l Inst. of Trial Advocacy 5th ed. 2009)
- Young’s Federal Rules of Evidence (West Pub. 6th ed. 2001)
- Mastering Written Discovery (with T. Zall, Lexis 3d ed. 2000)