Dawn Johnsen

Dawn Johnsen Nomination Withdrawn

Dawn Johnsen, President Obama’s pick to lead the Office of Legal Counsel withdrew her nomination for the position, demonstrating the effects of reckless obstruction by the GOP.

Broad Based Support for Dawn Johnsen

Anyone who has listened to GOP Senators labeling Dawn Johnsenas a "controversial" nominee could be excused for assuming that her support has been limited to the liberal extreme of the legal community. But the facts tell a different story.

Dawn Johnsen Approved by Judiciary Committee

In a party line vote today, President Obama's choice to head the Office of Legal Counsel was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee. This is the second time that Johnsen, who was first nominated more than a year ago, has been approved by the committee.

OPR Report Slams Bush Office of Legal Counsel

In a report released yesterday, the Justice Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility concluded that the pro-torture legal opinions produced by President Bush’s Office of Legal Counsel were the result of faulty reasoning.

Dawn Johnsen Resource Center

Despite support from across the ideological spectrum, Dawn Johnsen's confirmation to head the Office of Legal Council has been met with unprecedented delays and obstruction by GOP Senators.

Senate Republicans Continue Obstruction of Crucial Obama Nominees

Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee today delayed a committee vote on several of President Obama’s judicial and executive branch nominees, including three Department of Justice nominees who he renominated after GOP Senators denied them an up or down vote last year.

Obama Renominates Dawn Johnsen for OLC

The President yesterday formally renominated Dawn Johnsen, his choice to head the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel, along with several other nominees obstructed by Senate Republicans last year.

Judiciary Republicans Seek to Delay Johnsen Confirmation

In response to news reports that Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee are seeking a second hearing for Dawn Johnsen, People For the American Way Executive Vice President Marge Baker said, "This latest maneuver by Senate Republicans is anything but a good faith effort to protect national security. We absolutely face serious threats, and the Obama administration needs all hands on deck."

President Obama to Renominate Dawn Johnsen and Other 2009 Nominees

The White House announced today that President Obama will renominate Dawn Johnsen, his choice to head the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), along with other nominees whose confirmations were obstructed by Republicans last year.

Rise of the New McCarthyism: How Right Wing Extremists Try to Paralyze Government Through Ideological Smears and Baseless Attacks

Today, Joseph McCarthy’s ideological heirs in the Republican Party and right-wing media are using the language and tactics of McCarthy to stir fears that the nation is being destroyed by enemies from within. Republican Members of Congress and other GOP officials frequently act as an "amen chorus" to the far right’s demagogues or stay silent, hoping to reap political gain from the attacks on President Obama, administration officials and nominees, congressional democrats, and even military leaders.

Dawn Johnsen: Background

Background on Dawn Johnsen, Nominee for Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel

Restore Justice: Dawn Johnsen

Facts on Dawn Johnsen, Nominee for Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel

Letter to Sen. Harry Reid from Progressive Leaders on the Delay in Confirming Dawn Johnsen

GOP Obstruction of Executive Branch Nominees

After reviewing the records, it’s clear that Republican senators are blocking the confirmation of Obama’s executive branch nominees at unprecedented rates.

The Pressure Is Building - Confirm Dawn Johnsen Now

For months now, Senate Republicans have been blocking the confirmation of President Obama's nominees to key positions in the federal government. Dawn Johnsen, the President's eminently qualified nominee to head the Office of Legal Counsel in the Justice Department, has been waiting longer than almost anyone else-nearly eight months!

Right Wing Follows Deceptive Script On Supreme Court

A day after news of Justice Souter's planned resignation broke in the news, "dozens" of right-wing leaders representing more than 60 groups got together for a strategy call organized in part by the Judicial Confirmation Network to get everyone fired up and on message. All you need to know about the credibility of this campaign's leaders, and the credibility of their evaluations of potential nominees, is contained in this one sentence from the Judicial Confirmation Network's Wendy Long: "The current Supreme Court is a liberal, judicial activist court."

Restore Justice Telebriefing with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse

On Wednesday, April 22, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse joined People For the American Way’s members and activists for a telebriefing on the fight to confirm Dawn Johnsen, President Obama’s nominee to head the Office of Legal Counsel.

Kathleen Turner Phone Calls Support Confirmation of Dawn Johnsen

Residents of nine states will be receiving automated calls featuring the voice of actress Kathleen Turner supporting the confirmation of Dawn Johnsen. The calls urge constituents to call targeted Senators to demand that they support Johnsen, President Obama's nominee to lead the Office of Legal Counsel.

Kagan Confirmed as SG, Johnsen Moves to Senate Floor

The Senate today confirmed Elena Kagan as Solicitor General by a vote of 61 to 31. Earlier in the day, the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the nomination of Dawn Johnsen to the Senate floor on a near party line vote. People For the American Way President Kathryn Kolbert issued the following statement: "The confirmation of Elena Kagan to be the nation's advocate before the Supreme Court is an historic step for women. Just over a century ago, women weren't allowed to practice law or vote — today's vote is a sign of how far we've come. But I was deeply disappointed to see so many members of the GOP put politics ahead of principle in opposing the nomination of Dawn Johnsen as head of the Office of Legal Counsel. Dawn Johnsen has the experience, the intellect, and the integrity to bring respectability back to the OLC, and her confirmation should be above petty politics."

Attacks on DOJ Nominees Signal Right's Judicial Nominations Strategy

Right-wing political and legal organizations have unleashed a coordinated campaign of over-the-top attacks on the qualifications, records, and fitness of President Obama’s nominees for important positions in the U.S. Justice Department. Deputy Attorney General nominee David Ogden has been the prime target of the Right’s wrath, but Solicitor General nominee Elena Kagan, Associate Attorney General nominee Thomas Perrelli, and Office of Legal Counsel nominee Dawn Johnsen have also come in for their share of criticism.

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