Reading Room Document

Scope of the Term "Particular Matter" Under 18 U.S.C. 208

This opinion examines the meaning of "particular matter" in 18 U.S.C. § 208(a), the conflict-of-interest statute. The opinion revisits and upholds the prior interpretation of that phrase in a 1978 OLC opinion, defining “particular matter” as extending to rulemaking and general policy matters. The OLC does not provide release dates for its opinions, so the release date listed is the date on which the opinion was authored. The original opinion is available at https://justice.gov/olc/page/file/1009471/download.

January 12, 1987