Public Lands

Of Counsel

Jeff serves as Of Counsel to PEER, where he specializes in civil service, scientific integrity, and whistleblower protection issues. Jeff was PEER’s Executive Director from 1997 to 2019 and its Pacific Director from 2019 to 2025. Previously, he was the Policy Director and a staff attorney at the Government Accountability Project, representing whistleblowers from both the public and private sectors. Before coming to DC, Jeff worked in California state government for 17 years, mostly in the State Legislature as counsel to various committees where he drafted hundreds of laws on topics ranging from energy conservation to the rights of employed inventors. Jeff served stints as a deputy district attorney and an appellate court clerk. He is a graduate of the California Correctional Officers Academy.

Forest Service Tongass Timber Audit Remains Hidden

by Susan Sargent | October 8, 2020
Lawsuit Seeks Overdue Audit as Forest Service Preps Big Timber Expansion ...

Park Service Scrambles to Finish E-Bike Rule

by Susan Sargent | October 5, 2020
Hastily Fashioned Regulation Will Not Extinguish Lawsuit Challenge ...

PEERMail | “Advice and Consent” Is the Law

by Tim Whitehouse | October 1, 2020
Secretary Bernhardt continues his carousel of illegal appointments with new de facto NPS Director Margaret Emerson ...

BLM Won’t Stop Illegal Grazing  

Range Manager Facing Suspension After Appealing to Pendley ...

BLOG | Pendley Debacle Unmasks David Bernhardt’s Legal Charades

by Jeff Ruch | September 30, 2020
Judge rules WIlliam Pendley cannot serve as a de facto Director of the BLM despite the anemic arguments to the contrary by David Bernhardt ...
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