Huntington Beach city attorney appointed to DOJ Civil Rights position

Huntington Beach City Attorney Michael Gates has been appointed deputy U.S. assistant attorney general for Civil Rights.

In his new role, Gates said he would work to "advance President Trump's 'America First' agenda" and "fight to restore law and order throughout the country."

Gates, who has served as Huntington Beach City Attorney since 2014, will join fellow California attorney Harmeet K. Dhillon, who is awaiting Senate confirmation to lead the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division.

Dhillon is managing partner of the Dhillon Law Group Inc. in San Francisco. Her law firm colleague, David A. Warrington, has been nominated to become White House counsel.

Gates announced his appointment at a Monday news conference convened to discuss his crime-fighting initiatives. He said he has recommended Chief Assistant City Attorney Mike Vigliotta as his successor. Vigliotta, who has served in Huntington Beach's legal department for nearly two decades, brings extensive experience to the role.

During his tenure, Gates became a strong advocate for local government autonomy and conservative policies. Under his leadership, Huntington Beach enacted California's first local voter ID law and spearheaded several high-profile legal challenges against state mandates, including opposition to high-density housing requirements and sanctuary city laws.

"We have saved/protected over $300 million of taxpayer money just in our legal work alone," Gates stated, highlighting a $38 million victory against the State of California in 2023 among his achievements.

One of Gates' key accomplishments was launching Huntington Beach's first Criminal Prosecution Division in collaboration with the Orange County District Attorney's Office. According to Gates, the initiative played a role in reducing downtown crime by 11%.

Gates has drawn attention for positioning Huntington Beach as a conservative stronghold against California state policies, particularly in opposition to state housing mandates. Under his guidance, the city has been at the forefront of legal challenges against these requirements. He pointed out that nearly two years after the state's demand for immediate adoption of housing elements, "the State has not accomplished anything from its lawsuit that it set out to do."

At the news conference, Gates assured residents that his departure would not affect the city's ongoing legal battles. "If anyone thinks that my leaving the city to fight at the national level means that somehow the fights of Huntington Beach will be lessened or weakened, they are mistaken," he stated.

The city recently filed a federal challenge to California's sanctuary law. The lawsuit argues that the California Values Act violates federal immigration law and the Constitution's Supremacy Clause. City of Huntington Beach et al. v. State of California et al., 25-CV-00026, (C.D. Cal., filed Jan. 07, 2025)

Vigliotta, the recommended successor, is expected to continue the city's aggressive legal strategy, including these ongoing battles over voter ID requirements, housing density, and state sanctuary laws.

Before announcing his departure, Gates joined Steve Hilton, founder of Golden Together, to discuss the organization's new policy paper on California's crime crisis. The report emphasizes accountability, deterrence, and rehabilitation, proposing criminal justice reforms and homelessness solutions. It argues that the certainty of punishment is the strongest crime deterrent, while reliable rehabilitation reduces re-offending.

The policy paper proposes key reforms, including increasing law enforcement staffing to at least 2.5 officers per 1,000 residents and fully implementing Proposition 36. It also recommends preserving existing prison capacity while expanding low-security custody options for low-level offenders and substance abusers.

Drawing from successful models, the paper advocates overhauling California's prison rehabilitation programs based on Virginia's cognitive community model, which has achieved a recidivism rate half that of California's. Additionally, it explores a "Payment by Results" system for rehabilitation providers, tying funding to benchmarks like released inmates maintaining stable employment.

During the press conference, Hilton also announced new additions to Golden Together's Advisory Board, including Jeff Reisig, Yolo County's district attorney and author of Proposition 36, and John McGinnins, a former sheriff of Sacramento County.

The City Council will need to approve Gates' recommendation for his replacement. The timeline for the transition was not announced.