IU law Professor Dawn Johnsen has withdrawn her name from consideration for appointment by President Obama to head the Office of Legal Counsel. Johnsen and her family endured over a year of uncertainty and frustration while waiting for her confirmation that never came. Blue Indiana has it.
We lost a good nominee today, and in the process lost a battle in the war over the kind of partisan gridlock that has become the calling card of the Republican Party in the last year. Ridiculous.
Perhaps Professor Johnsen would be better suited to fill Justice Stevens’ soon to be vacant seat. Village heads would really explode then.
Somebody needs a good spanking and time-out over this.
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We don’t want a Bush contrarian on this post at DOJ now, do we?
(TPM) – Dawn Johnsen today has withdrawn her nomination to lead the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel, following a more than year-long confirmation fight with Senate Republicans.
The White House said President Obama accepted Johnsen’s withdrawal request today, adding a statement lauding her accomplishments as a “highly-respected constitutional scholar.”
Senate Republicans challenged her because she took a strong position opposing torture practices during the Bush administration.
Surprise Agreement at Senate Hearing on “Secret Law” by Dawn Johnsen [May 2008]
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."