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more_legal_areas security-clearance_denialAfter a security clearance application is submitted and investigations are complete, the Federal Agency Security Adjudication Officer will determine whether or not security clearance, or access to national security information, will be granted or denied. To make this decision based on numerous factors, the Officer will apply the “clearly consistent with the interests of national security” standard. This means that applicant’s loyalty, trustworthiness, financial responsibility, involvement in civil or criminal litigation, emotional stability, judgment, and ties to others will be evaluated to determine whether or not the applicant is fit to gain privileged access to sensitive information.
The Supreme Court has ruled that, “security-clearance determinations should err, when they must, on the side of denials.” This means that when the government decision maker is unsure whether or not a candidate is fit for access to restricted information, they will favor security clearance denial. In many cases, a security clearance denial is made because the applicant is not considered trustworthy or reliable enough to handle the information they may receive.
There are four reasons for unequivocal security clearance denial. These include: criminal conviction with a sentence of more than one year of incarceration, unlawful use an/or addiction to a controlled substance, mental incompetence, and dishonorable discharge from the military. Security clearance denial in other situations may fall in the gray area, lending to the discretion of appropriate authorities.
In some situations, security clearance denial is capricious, arbitrary, or contrary to the law. In these cases, security clearance denial may be based on factors that are not related to matters of national security. Sexual preference or past behaviors, race, and/or political views may be unjustly used as the basis of security clearance denial. Because the government is given total discretion on security clearance with little or no checks on the system, abuses of power occur and unjust security clearance denial determinations made.
The entire security clearance process is considerably unforgiving, government-centric, and stricter than any civil or criminal process. Most applicants are not afforded the legal rights provided to them in other legal contexts. Generally speaking, there is no right to a jury trial, and virtually no process of judicial review, particularly in situations of security clearance denial.
The best way to protect yourself from unjust security clearance denial is to retain the services of a qualified and experienced attorney. Early involvement of an attorney increases success in appeals after security clearance denial. When an attorney oversees the application process and is familiar with a person’s case through each step of the process, the risks of security clearance denial are mitigated. Should security clearance denial prevail, this competent attorney can represent you in all subsequent proceedings to work for a more favorable outcome. If you would like to learn more about your legal rights and options with regards to security clearance denial, please contact us to speak with a qualified and experienced attorney in your area.