Speaking Engagement

Nov 20, 2025

Jim Trusty Discusses Prosecutorial Integrity on EBW Inn of Court Panel

Ifrah Law partner Jim Trusty spoke at the Edward Bennett Williams Inn of Court November program, “Challenges to the Integrity of Past Prosecutions and Investigations.” Joining him on the panel were three other prominent speakers with extensive experience across the justice system, including:

• J.P. Cooney, former Principal Deputy to Special Counsel Jack Smith and former Chief of the D.C. U.S. Attorney’s Office Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section;
• John Keller, former Acting Chief of the DOJ’s Public Integrity Section and veteran prosecutor and defense attorney; and
• Elizabeth (Liz) Oyer, former U.S. Pardon Attorney, and previously served as a longtime federal public defender

The discussion, facilitated by EBW Inn members Liz Boison and Heidi Boutros, examined how shifts in policies, practices, and accountability standards can challenge confidence in past legal outcomes and their implications for the rule of law, prosecutorial discretion, and public trust.

During the panel, Trusty offered important historical perspective on the use of presidential clemency powers, noting that debates over pardons and commutations have existed since the founding of the republic. He referenced George Washington’s controversial pardon of Whiskey Rebellion leaders as an early example of how clemency decisions have long generated public debate; helping to shape contemporary discussions about prosecutorial integrity and clemency within the broader historical context of American jurisprudence.

Jim also emphasized the importance of understanding that DOJ involvement in the clemency process represents just one approach among several valid models, and cautioned against assumptions about the superiority of any single framework.

About the Edward Bennett Williams Inn of Court
The Edward Bennett Williams Inn of Court is a prestigious legal organization that brings together judges, experienced attorneys, and younger lawyers to discuss ethics, skills, and professionalism in the practice of law. The Inn’s monthly programs provide a forum for meaningful dialogue on critical issues facing the legal profession.