Legal News

Obama to Nominate 3 from Harvard Law, 1 From Yale, for Key DOJ Posts

By Dan Slater

This morning, Barack Obama announced that he intends to nominate the following four legal beagles for key DOJ posts:

Elena Kagan, Solicitor General: As expected, Kagan, the Dean of Harvard Law School since 2003, will return to Washington (she was a Clinton White House lawyer in the 90’s) as the Obama administration’s Supreme Court advocate. Kagan (Princeton, Harvard Law) clerked for Judge Abner Mikva of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, and for Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. She then went to Williams & Connolly before heading back into academics as a prof at U. of Chicago in the early 90’s.

David Ogden, Deputy Attorney General: Currently a partner at WilmerHale, Ogden was nominated by Clinton to serve as Assistant AG in the civil division in 1999. Before that he served as chief of staff to former AG Janet Reno. Ogden (UPenn, Harvard Law) clerked for Judge Abraham D. Sofaer in the Southern District Court of New York and Supreme Court Justice Harry A. Blackmun.

Tom Perrelli, Associate Attorney General: Perrelli is currently managing partner of Jenner & Block’s D.C. office and co-chair of the firm’s entertainment and new media practice. From 1997-99, Perrelli served as counsel to former AG Janet Reno and eventually became deputy assistant AG. Prior to Jenner & Block, Perrelli (Brown, Harvard Law) clerked for Royce C. Lamberth of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

Dawn Johnsen, Assistant AG for the Office of Legal Counsel: A law prof at Indiana University, Johnsen serves on the board of directors of the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy. From 1988-93, Johnsen (Yale, Yale Law) was the legal director of the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League. She clerked for Richard D. Cudahy, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

In a statement, Obama said: “These individuals bring the integrity, depth of experience and tenacity that the Department of Justice demands in these uncertain times. I have the fullest confidence that they will ensure that the Department of Justice once again fulfills its highest purpose: to uphold the Constitution and protect the American people. I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead.”

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this post incorrectly said Tom Perrelli served as deputy attorney general. In fact, he was the assistant deputy AG. An earlier version also incorrectly referred to the law firm of WilmerHale as Wilmer Cutler.

Full post as published by Law Blog - WSJ.com on January 05, 2009 (boomark / email).