The Washington Times
  • Subscribe
  • Times News Services
  • RSS
  • Mobile Headlines
  • e-edition
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • REGISTER
  • LOG IN
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • WELCOME
  • Your Profile
  • Log Out
  • Front Page Image
  • Classifieds
  • Autos
  • Real Estate
  • Jobs
  • Special Sections
  • Customer Service
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Sports
    • NFL
    • NBA/WNBA
    • MLB
    • NHL
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsports
    • Soccer
    • NCAA
    • Olympics
    • Outdoors
    • Other
  • Culture
    • Home & Living
    • Family & Kids
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Washington Visitors
    • Books
    • Military History
    • Life
    • Auto
    • TV Listings
    • Movie Listings
    • Death Notices
    • Entertainment
  • Themes
  • Communities
  • Marketplace
    • Autos
    • Jobs
    • Real Estate
    • Classifieds
    • Shopping
    • Dining Out
    • Education
    • TWT Store
  • Videos
    • Two Guys
    • Birnbaum on Washington
    • Liz Glover
    • Amanda Carpenter
    • Morning Briefing
    • Documentaries
    • Joe Giganti
    • Video Game Minute
  • Podcasts
    • About Headlines
    • Audio and Radio
    • America's Morning News
  • World

    Suicide attack kills 10 at Pakistan checkpoint

  • Sports

    Defensemen carry offense in Caps' win

  • Commentary

    Pelosi's new payroll tax

  • National

    Pastor gets 175-year sentence for sex crimes

  • National

    Moon strikes reveal significant water

  • Business

    September trade gap widened 18.2%

  • National

    Five 9/11 suspects to be tried in NYC

Thursday, April 8, 2004

Memo urged delay of judicial nominee

Rate this story

Average 0.00
after 0 votes
Login or register to rate this story

  • Font Size -+
  • Print
  • Email
  • Comment
  • Tweet this!
  • Share
  • Article
  • Comments ()
  • Click-2-Listen
  • Videos

More Stories

  • Suicide attack kills 10 at Pakistan checkpoint
  • Review: Palin book repeats familiar claims
  • Moon strikes reveal significant water
  • Jefferson sentenced to 13 years in freezer cash case

By

A Senate Judiciary Committee lawyer urged Sen. Edward M. Kennedy to use the judicial-confirmation process to affect an affirmative-action case to which she once had been a party.

When Olati Johnson worked as a lawyer for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), she represented students supporting the University of Michigan's affirmative-action program in the landmark court case that decided the constitutionality of race-based preferences in university admissions programs.

As the case journeyed toward the Supreme Court, Ms. Johnson quit the NAACP and became a lawyer on the Senate Judiciary Committee for Mr. Kennedy, Massachusetts Democrat.

There, in April 2002, she and Mr. Kennedy's chief legal counsel urged the influential Judiciary Committee member to stall a conservative nominee to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals until after that panel had ruled on the University of Michigan case.

"The thinking is that the current 6th Circuit will sustain the affirmative-action program, but if a new judge with conservative views is confirmed before the case is decided, that new judge will be able, under 6th Circuit rules, to review the case and vote on it," Ms. Johnson wrote to Mr. Kennedy in a memo obtained by The Washington Times.

Neither Ms. Johnson nor former chief counsel Melody Barnes still work for Mr. Kennedy.

"That is a stunning development," Sen. Jeff Sessions, Alabama Republican and member of the Judiciary Committee said yesterday. "If she was a party to that lawsuit, I am shocked and stunned that she would take action that had a direct impact on the outcome of that historic case of national importance."

Tennessee Judge Julia S. Gibbons -- the nominee in question -- was not confirmed until after the panel upheld the University of Michigan Law School's racial-preferences program on a 5-4 vote. But Democrats blame a Republican senator for the delay.

Jeffrey Mazzella, director of the Center for Individual Freedom, asked for an official inquiry into the matter by the Senate.

"The cloud of corruption hanging over Senator Kennedy and his office is growing darker," Mr. Mazzella said. "If the Senate ethics committee does not immediately investigate and punish the shameful behavior detailed in the memo, then it can no longer maintain any credibility."

123Next »

Post a comment

There are comments on this article, submit your opinion!

Commenting is disabled for this entry.
If you feel there is still something worth mentioning about this entry please contact the author or the site admin.

Ask a Question

You Report

Do you have another point of view, photos, audio, video or more information about a story?

Top Stories

Most Read

  1. Bush warns of threats to freedom, economic growth
  2. KELLNER: New Apple mouse really is 'Magic'
  3. Houston sheriffs round up thousands of illegals
  4. EXCLUSIVE: Iran advocacy group said to skirt lobby rules
  5. EXCLUSIVE: Fort Hood suspect contacted Muslim extremists
More Top Stories »
  1. Tax penalties and prison
  2. Airport rules changed after Ron Paul aide detained
  3. Former clinic director: Church chilly to my pro-life turn
  4. EDITORIAL: End Clinton-era military base gun ban
  5. PRUDEN: On vacation with Mr. Dithers

Most Shared

  1. Bush warns of threats to freedom, economic growth
  2. Former clinic director: Church chilly to my pro-life turn
  3. KELLNER: New Apple mouse really is 'Magic'
  4. Immigration bill is promoted for 2010
  5. PRUDEN: On vacation with Mr. Dithers
More Top Stories »
  1. EDITORIAL: End Clinton-era military base gun ban
  2. Reluctant White House welcome
  3. Jefferson given 13 years for corruption
  4. EXCLUSIVE: Iran advocacy group said to skirt lobby rules
  5. Pelosi's new payroll tax

Most Commented

  1. Bush warns of threats to freedom, economic growth
  2. Houston sheriffs round up thousands of illegals
  3. Immigration bill is promoted for 2010
  4. EXCLUSIVE: Iran advocacy group said to skirt lobby rules
  5. Former clinic director: Church chilly to my pro-life turn
More Top Stories »
  1. Bush warns of too much government
  2. PRUDEN: On vacation with Mr. Dithers
  3. EDITORIAL: Running away from terrorism
  4. ACORN sues government over funding
  5. Jefferson given 13 years for corruption

Listen to Washington Times Radio

  • America's Morning News

    with John McCaslin and Melanie Morgan

Blogs & Columns

  • POTUS Notes

    Anita Dunn: MSNBC 'different' from Fox News

  • The Back Story

    12 arrested at Pelosi's office

  • Belief Blog

    New Vatican constitution released

  • Out of Context

    Foods that might kill libido

  • Technology

    Facebook wins round against phishing spammer

  • On the Fly

    United lifts some 'award' blocking

  • Redskins 360

    Smith, Betts, Heyer should play

  • Tara's Two Cents

    On their way to summer vacation..

  • SNOBlog

    Beyond 'Woody'

Videos

Advertising Links
TWT Store
  • e-edition
  • Print Edition
  • Weekly Washington Times
TWT Affiliates
  • Middle East Times
  • Golf
  • UPI
  • Arbor Ballroom
  • Washington Times Global
  • About TWT
  • Press Room
  • F.A.Q.
  • Work for TWT
  • Advertise
  • Sponsors
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map

All site contents © Copyright 2009 The Washington Times, LLC.