FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Harry M. Seidman
Phone: 202.480.2085
Email: hseidman@acus.gov

Administrative Conference Mourns the Passing of Philip J. Harter

Washington, D.C., August 31, 2023 – The Administrative Conference of the United States (ACUS) joins the whole administrative law community in mourning the passing of our colleague Phil Harter on August 12, 2023. During his long and distinguished career, Phil was a valued contributor to the work of the Administrative Conference.

ACUS Chair Andrew Fois said about Phil, "Everyone at ACUS feels the loss of Phil Harter. Phil was a long-time supporter of ACUS as a staffer during the mid-1970s, a consultant, and a member. Many of Phil’s accomplishments were achieved while working in concert with his colleagues at ACUS. Our condolences go to his wife Nancy, daughter Alexa, and the rest of his family."

Phil had a profound understanding and respect for administrative law, both theory and practice. He was a skilled administrative law professor who served as the Chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Administrative Law & Regulatory Practice in 1995­–1996, during the 50th Anniversary of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). Phil was also the father of negotiated rulemaking, having written the articles that set out the framework for it, and he led the effort to enact the Negotiated Rulemaking Act of 1990. Phil was also a leading expert in mediation and alternative dispute resolution. He will be missed.

Please read ACUS's full statement, which includes tributes from ACUS members and other colleagues.

Download: ACUS Statement on the Passing of Philip J. Harter

About ACUS

The Administrative Conference of the United States is an independent, non-partisan federal agency within the executive branch dedicated to improving administrative law and federal regulatory processes. It conducts applied research, and provides expert recommendations and other advice, to improve federal agency procedures. Its membership is composed of senior federal officials, academics, and other experts from the private sector. Since 1968, ACUS has issued hundreds of recommendations, published reports and reference guides, and organized forums to improve the efficiency, adequacy, and fairness of administrative processes such as rulemaking and adjudication. Many have resulted in reforms by federal agencies, the President, Congress, and the Judicial Conference of the United States. Learn more at www.acus.gov.

# # #