This morning, Dawn Johnsen was voted out of the Senate Judiciary Committee along party lines–for the second time. President Obama nominated Professor Johnsen to serve as the Head of the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel in January 2009, but she has yet to receive a vote on the Senate floor. Today’s vote will hopefully provide the necessary momentum to finally consider Professor Johnsen’s nomination. Rabbi Saperstein issued a statement welcoming the vote and encouraging the Senate to quickly confirm Professor Johnsen to this critical post.
The stagnation of Professor Johnsen’s nomination is only one example of the extreme obstruction of President Obama’s Executive Branch nominees. In the 8 years of the Bush Presidency, the Senate forced cloture votes on only 7 Executive Branch nominees. In the first 13 months of President Obama’s tenure, however, the Senate has already forced 9 cloture votes on such nominees. And, 69 nominees remain pending on the Senate’s calendar, many of whom, including Professor Johnsen, are expected to be filibustered. (All data from a study conducted by People for the American Way).
This unprecedented level of obstructionism politicizes the confirmation process and leaves critical offices in the Executive Branch unnecessarily empty. When capable and qualified nominees such as Professor Johnsen are willing to serve, the Senate should consider their nominations fairly and expediently. Hopefully today’s vote will jump-start that process.