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Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Courts - Where does new Democrat Spector stand on Dawn Johnsen and David Hamilton's nominations?

From a story today by David Ingram in Legal Times:

Sen. Arlen Specter's switch to the Democratic Party brings his new colleagues a little closer to controlling 60 seats in the Senate, but it's not clear that the switch will have much of an effect on the fate of nominees for the federal bench and the Justice Department. * * *

Specter provided a fresh example of that independence Tuesday, saying for the first time that he is "opposed" to the nomination of Dawn Johnsen to be assistant attorney general in charge of the Office of Legal Counsel. Her confirmation is a priority for the Democratic Party's base, in part because the office has been at the center of the battle over interrogation policies. Specter did not elaborate on his reasons for opposing her or make clear whether he would vote for cloture. (Only one Republican, Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, has said he will support Johnsen. Johnsen is a law professor at Indiana University at Bloomington.) * * *

Asked whether he would change his approach to potential judges in particular, Specter said he would not. "I am willing to listen to any judicial nominee," Specter said. He then alluded to the Republicans' boycott of the April 1 confirmation hearing for David Hamilton, nominated for the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and he said his only concern had been inadequate time to prepare for the hearing. "I will counsel the chairman to have adequate time to prepare," he said.

[More] Maureen Groppe of the Gannett News Service has a story this morning that begins: "Allies of Indiana University law professor Dawn Johnsen are trying to counter Republican opposition to her nomination to a top position in the Justice Department."

Sylvia Smith, Washington editor for the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, has a story headed: "Lugar to support IU law professor's nomination: First in GOP to back Obama's pick to head internal law office."

Posted by Marcia Oddi on April 29, 2009 07:36 AM
Posted to Courts in general