Kagan and Johnsen: two interesting picks for top positions in the Department of Justice

President Elect Obama has announced the appointment of Elena Kagan as Solicitor General and Dawn E. Johnsen as head of the Office of Legal Counsel, two top posts at the Department of Justice. Both have excelled in the legal field, both in academia and government positions. Kagan has considerable administrative experience, having served as a successful dean of a notoriously difficult to manage institution - Harvard Law School.

Elena Kagan not only clerked for Thurgood Marshall, but she follows in his footsteps;  one of the stops in Marshall's distinguished career was as Solicitor General. (For information about the role of the Solicitor General - and a fun read - go here.)

Listen to Johnsen herself on the growth of the imperial presidency under George W. Bush and the appropriate role of the Office of Legal Counsel in ensuring that the president acts within Constitutionally assigned boundaries. Johnsen's opposition to secret law is particularly noteworthy.

Let us hope that Congress quickly confirms both these appointments; Johnsen's confirmation will merit special vigilance by liberals, because members of Congress who favor the repressive tactics of the Bush-Cheney administration will certainly be critical of this very outspoken advocate for civil liberties in a time when all too many people have been willing to see them curtailed.

Comments

[purplefinn]

Thank you for this information. Rays of hope!

[Mirlo]

Thanks for these positive news, I liked what I read and saw/heard very much.