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ISCR 03-10617.h1: Guideline H security clearance hearing, granted (2004) · CASE

ISCR Case 03-10617.h1granted

Case headnote

ISCR Case No. 03-10617.h1

grantedJun 14, 2004· Hon. Martin H. Mogul· hearing

Summary

A 44-year-old applicant was granted a security clearance despite a history of marijuana use, which began in 1975. The Statement of Reasons alleged long-term marijuana use, with the last instance occurring in June 2000, and that the applicant purchased marijuana for personal use. These allegations raised disqualifying conditions under Guideline H (Drug Involvement).

However, the Administrative Judge found sufficient evidence of rehabilitation, applying mitigating conditions. The decision to grant the clearance was based on several factors. The applicant demonstrated a significant period of abstinence, having last used marijuana in June 2000.

Furthermore, the applicant credibly expressed an intention to abstain from future marijuana use. This commitment was supported by positive character references from 17 individuals, who attested to the applicant's trustworthiness. Based on these mitigating factors, the security clearance was granted.

Why the applicant prevailed

Applicant last used marijuana in June 2000, demonstrating a significant period of abstinence.
Applicant credibly indicated an intention not to use marijuana in the future.
Positive character references from 17 individuals supported Applicant's trustworthiness.

Conditions referenced

Disqualifying

E2.A8.1.2.1raisedAny Drug Abuse
E2.A8.1.2.2raisedIllegal Drug Possession

Mitigating

E2.A8.1.3.1appliedThe Drug Involvement Was Not Recent
E2.A8.1.3.3appliedThe Individual Has Expressed a Willingness to Discontinue Drug Use

Key rule quoted

“Any determination under this order...shall be a determination in terms of the national interest and shall in no sense be a determination as to the loyalty of the applicant concerned.”
Executive Order 10865

Procedural posture

SOR issuedNov 4, 2004
Answer filedNov 24, 2004Applicant requested a hearing.
Hearing heldMar 18, 2004
Decision dateJun 14, 2004

Cite for

Mitigating Factors for Drug Involvement Under Guideline H
Evidence of Rehabilitation in Drug Use Cases
Importance of Personal Character References in Security Clearance Decisions

Editorial summary generated for research. Not legal advice; not a prediction. Verify against the full decision before relying on any quoted language.

From the decision

Facts this decision states, each with the exact sentence it comes from. Descriptive of the record, not an assessment.

Age at decision: 44: “Applicant is 44 years old.”
Held a clearance before: Yes: “His regular marijuana usage occurred during a period when he had a security clearance, approximately 1987 through 1989.”

Standardized Decision Profile

SEAD-4 Guideline H (Drug Involvement) · descriptive summary of a decided case

Posture: Decision on RecordDecided: granted

The Applicant has a long history of marijuana use, starting in 1975, with the last use occurring in June 2000. The judge found that the Applicant's conduct was not recent and that he has no intention to use marijuana in the future, leading to a decision to grant the security clearance.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Substance / event	Use level	Response	Disqualifying (¶25)	Mitigating applied (¶26)	Mitigation

Descriptive standardized rendering of a decided public case. The verbatim source decision is shown in full below.

Full decision

The complete, official text, footnotes and signatures included, is in the original PDF.

Decision text, by section

DEFENSE OFFICE OF HEARINGS AND APPEALS

HEARING

APPEARANCES

DATE: June 14, 2004

In Re:

------------------------

SSN: -----------------

Applicant for Security Clearance

CR Case No. 03-10617

DECISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE

MARTIN H. MOGUL

FOR GOVERNMENT

Edward W. Loughran, Department Counsel

FOR APPLICANT

William H. Sams, Esq.

SYNOPSIS

This forty four year old Applicant has used marijuana for many years, starting in 1975. He last used marijuana in June 2000, and he has credibly indicated that he does not intend to use marijuana in the future. Mitigation has been shown. Clearance is granted.

STATEMENT OF CASE

On November 4, 2004, the Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA), under Executive Order 10865, Safeguarding Classified Information Within Industry, dated February 20, 1960, as amended and modified, and Department of Defense Directive 5220.6, Defense Industrial Personnel Security Clearance Review Program (Directive), dated January 2, 1992, as amended and modified, issued an SOR to Applicant. The SOR detailed reasons under Guideline H (Drug Involvement) why DOHA could not make the preliminary affirmative finding under the Directive that it is clearly consistent with the national interest to grant or continue a security clearance for Applicant, and recommended referral to an Administrative Judge to conduct proceedings and determine whether clearance should be granted or denied.

In a signed and sworn statement, notarized on November 24, 2004, Applicant responded to the SOR allegations. He requested that his case be decided on a hearing record.

On February 2, 2004, this case was assigned to this Administrative Judge to conduct a hearing and issue a written decision. A Notice of Hearing was issued to the parties on February 14, 2004, and the hearing was held on March 18, 2004.

At the hearing, Department Counsel offered three documentary exhibits (Government Exhibits 1 through 3), and no witnesses were called. Applicant, through counsel offered 17 documentary exhibit (Applicant Exhibits A through Q), and offered his own testimony and that of three additional witnesses. All of the documents were entered into evidence without objection. The revised and corrected transcript (TR) was received on April 6, 2004.

FINDINGS OF FACT

The Government opposes Applicant's request for a security clearance, based upon the allegations set forth in the SOR. The SOR contains two allegations, 1.a. and 1.b., under Guideline H (Drug Involvement). In his response to the SOR, Applicant admits both allegations. These allegations are incorporated as findings of fact.

After a complete and thorough review of the evidence in the record, including Applicant's Answer to the SOR, the admitted documents, and the testimony of Applicant and the other witnesses, and upon due consideration of that evidence, I make the additional findings of fact:

Applicant is 44 years old. He is unmarried and has no children. Applicant is employed by a defense contractor, and he seeks a DoD security clearance in connection with his employment in the defense sector.

Guideline H - Drug Involvement

The Government alleges that Applicant is ineligible for clearance because he abuses illegal substances. Applicant estimated that his first usage of marijuana occurred in approximately 1975. With some exceptions, he continued to use marijuana, at times on a daily basis, until 1996, when he stopped using it. His regular marijuana usage occurred during a period when he had a security clearance, approximately 1987 through 1989. He began to use marijuana again in December 1999 (Tr at 56-59, Exhibit 2).

Applicant has purchased marijuana for his own use, but he denies that he has ever sold it. He also denies that he ever used any other illegal substance (Exhibit 2).

Applicant testified that he last used marijuana in June 2000, and he claims to have no future intention to use marijuana, because he does not want to go through the same pattern with his life as he had previously (Tr at 65, Exhibit 2).

Applicant introduced letters of reference from 17 people which were extremely positive about Applicant's ability and his trustworthiness (Exhibits A through Q). Additionally, three of those who wrote letters also appeared and testified at the hearing to give further indication of their strong support for Applicant.

POLICIES

Security clearance decisions are not made in a vacuum. Accordingly, the Department of Defense, in Enclosure 2 of the 1992 Directive, has set forth policy factors which must be given "binding" consideration in making security clearance determinations. These factors should be followed in every case according to the pertinent guideline. However, the factors are neither automatically determinative of the decision in any case, nor can they supersede the Administrative Judge's reliance on his own common sense, as well as his knowledge of the law, human nature and the ways of the world, in making a reasoned decision.

Because each security clearance case presents its own unique facts and circumstances, it cannot be assumed that these factors exhaust the realm of human experience, or apply equally in every case. Based upon a consideration of the evidence as a whole, I find the following adjudicative guidelines most pertinent to an evaluation of the facts of this case:

Guideline H (Drug Involvement)

The Concern: Improper or illegal involvement with drugs, raises questions regarding an individual's willingness or ability to protect classified information. Drug abuse or dependence may impair social or occupational functioning, increasing the risk of an unauthorized disclosure of classified information.

Drugs are defined as mood and behavior altering substances, and include:

(E2.A8.1.1.2.1.) drugs, materials, and other chemical compounds identified and listed in the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, as amended (e.g., marijuana or cannabis, depressants, narcotics, stimulants, and hallucinogens); and(E2.A8.1.1.2.2.) inhalants and other similar substances.

Drug abuse is the illegal use of a drug or use of a legal drug in a manner that deviates from approved medical direction.

On June 7, 2001, the Deputy Secretary of Defense issued a Memorandum, Implementation of Restrictions on the Granting or Renewal of Security Clearances as Mandated by the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001. The memorandum provides policy guidance for the implementation of Section 1071 of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001, which amended Title 10, United States Code, to add a new section (10 U.S.C. § 986) that precludes the initial granting or renewal of a security clearance by the Department of Defense under specific circumstances. The situation described above involves one of those specific circumstances.

In addition, as set forth in Enclosure 2 of the Directive at pages 16-17, "In evaluating the relevance of an individual's conduct, the [Administrative Judge] should consider the following factors [General Factors]:

a. The nature, extent and seriousness of the conduct

b. The circumstances surrounding the conduct, to include knowledgeable participation

c. The frequency and recency of the conduct

d. The individual's age and maturity at the time of the conduct

e. The voluntariness of participation

f. The presence or absence of rehabilitation and other pertinent behavior changes

g. The motivation for the conduct

h. The potential for pressure, coercion, exploitation or duress

i. The likelihood of continuation or recurrence.

The eligibility guidelines established in the DoD Directive identify personal characteristics and conduct which are reasonably related to the ultimate question of whether it is "clearly consistent with the national interest" to grant an Applicant's request for access to classified information.

In the defense industry, the security of classified industrial secrets is entrusted to civilian workers who must be counted upon to safeguard such sensitive information twenty-four hours a day. The Government is therefore appropriately concerned where available information indicates that an Applicant for clearance may be involved in acts of alcohol abuse and conduct that demonstrates poor judgement, untrustworthiness or unreliability on the Applicant's part.

The DoD Directive states, "Each adjudication is to be an overall common sense determination based upon consideration and assessment of all available information, both favorable and unfavorable, with particular emphasis placed on the seriousness, recency, frequency, and motivation for the individual's conduct; the extent to which conduct was negligent, willful, voluntary, or undertaken with the knowledge of the circumstances or consequences involved; and, to the extent that it can be estimated, the probability that conduct will or will not continue in the future." The Administrative Judge can only draw those inferences or conclusions that have a reasonable and logical basis in the evidence of record. The Judge cannot draw inferences or conclusions based on evidence which is speculative or conjectural in nature. Finally, as emphasized by President Eisenhower in Executive Order 10865, "Any determination under this order...shall be

a determination in terms of the national interest and shall in no sense be a determination as to the loyalty of the applicant concerned."

CONCLUSION

It is the Government's responsibility to present substantial evidence to support the finding of a nexus, or rational connection, between Applicant's conduct and the continued holding of a security clearance. If such a case has been established, the burden then shifts to the Applicant to go forward with evidence in rebuttal, explanation or mitigation which is sufficient to overcome or outweigh the Government's case. Applicant bears the ultimate burden of persuasion in proving that it is clearly consistent with the national interest to grant him or her a security clearance.

Upon consideration of all the facts in evidence, and after application of all appropriate legal precepts, factors, and conditions, including those described briefly above, I conclude the following with respect to the allegation set forth in the SOR:

Guideline H - Drug Involvement With respect to Guideline H, the Government has established its case. Applicant's improper and illegal drug abuse, including the possession and use of marijuana, is of concern, especially in light of his desire to have access to the nation's secrets. Applicant's overall conduct pertaining to his illegal substance abuse clearly falls within Drug Involvement Disqualifying Condition (DC) E2.A8.1.2.1. (any drug abuse), and DC E2.A8.1.2.2. (illegal drug possession, including cultivation, processing, manufacture, purchase, sale, or distribution).

Based on the fact that Applicant last used marijuana in June, 2000, I conclude that Applicant's conduct comes within Mitigating Condition (MC) E2.A8.1.3.1., (the drug involvement was not recent.) MC E2.A8.1.3.3. also applies because of Applicant's stated intention not to continue using marijuana in the future.

In this case, the Government has met its initial burden of proving by substantial evidence that Applicant has used illegal drugs for many years under Guideline H. Applicant, on the other hand, has introduced persuasive evidence in rebuttal, explanation or mitigation which is sufficient to overcome the Government's case against him. Accordingly, Paragraph 1of the SOR is concluded for Applicant.

On balance, it is concluded that Applicant has overcome the Government's information opposing his request for a security clearance.

FORMAL FINDINGS

Formal findings For or Against the Applicant on the allegations in the SOR, as required by Paragraph 25 of Enclosure 3 of the Directive, are:

Paragraph 1: FOR APPLICANT.

Subparagraph 1.a.: For Applicant

Subparagraph 1.b.: For Applicant

DECISION

In light of all the circumstances presented by the record in this case, it is clearly consistent with the national interest to grant or continue a security clearance for the Applicant.

Martin H. Mogul

Administrative Judge

FOOTNOTES

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