Author: Lynn Sweet

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich wants to subpoena President Obama to testify at his June criminal corruption trial, my Chicago Sun-Times colleague Natasha Korecki is reporting over at her Blago Blog.

WASHINGTON–White House executive chef Christeta Comerford keynotes an evening of culinary mastery and healthy living” at Northwestern University on Friday, hitting the Evanston campus. Obamafoodorama explains more over here; Northwestern provides details of the Comerford event, sponsored by NU’s Filipino Student Association; co-Sponsored by Multicultural Student Affairs, ECO, Food Health Initiative (FHI), One Book One Northwestern, SEED.

WASHINGTON — Two more contenders with Chicago ties surfaced Wednesday on President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee short list: federal appeals Judge Ann Williams and Harvard Law School Dean Martha Minow, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned.

Of the 10 leading potential nominees to replace retiring Justice John Paul Stevens — a Chicago native — five have significant Chicago links: Williams, on the Chicago-based U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals; Diane Wood, also on the 7th Circuit; Solicitor General Elena Kagan, a former professor at the University of Chicago Law School; the Lincolnwood-raised Merrick Garland on the D.C Court of Appeals, and Minow, a New Trier East graduate, class of 1972.

Minow earlier this month was sworn in as an Obama appointee to the Legal Services Corp., where she is vice chairwoman. Minow is the daughter of Newton Minow, former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission and a senior counsel at Chicago’s Sidley Austin. When Obama was at Harvard Law School, Minow recommended that Sidley hire him for a summer job in Chicago. Obama took the job and met his future wife, Michelle, at the firm.

Williams was mentioned last year as a possible replacement for Justice David Souter in the appointment that went to Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

Williams was nominated by President Ronald Reagan to the District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, where she was the first African-American woman to serve in the circuit. She was elevated to the appellate court by President Bill Clinton. A former third-grade teacher in Detroit, she was an assistant U.S. attorney in Chicago before becoming a judge.

Obama on Wednesday said he would decide on a nominee by next month. He said he was not going to apply any abortion-rights “litmus tests.”

“But I will say that I want somebody who is going to be interpreting our Constitution in a way that takes into account individual rights, and that includes women’s rights,” he said. “That’s going to be something that’s very important to me.”

WASHINGTON–President Obama pressures Wall Street Thursday on his financial reform package.

Obama is expected to say in his speech: “I believe in a strong financial sector that helps people to raise capital and get loans and invest their savings. But a free market was never meant to be a free license to take whatever you can get, however you can get it. That is what happened too often in the years leading up to the crisis. Some on Wall Street forgot that behind every dollar traded or leveraged, there is family looking to buy a house, pay for an education, open a business, or save for retirement. What happens here has real consequences across our country.”

Below, from the White House….

EXCERPTS – Remarks of President Barack Obama

Wall Street Reform at Cooper Union

One of the most significant contributors to this recession was a financial crisis as dire as any we’ve known in generations. And that crisis was born of a failure of responsibility – from Wall Street to Washington – that brought down many of the world’s largest financial firms and nearly dragged our economy into a second Great Depression.

It was that failure of responsibility that I spoke about when I came to New York more than two years ago – before the worst of the crisis had unfolded. I take no satisfaction in noting that my comments have largely been borne out by the events that followed. But I repeat what I said then because it is essential that we learn the lessons of this crisis, so we don’t doom ourselves to repeat it. And make no mistake, that is exactly what will happen if we allow this moment to pass – an outcome that is unacceptable to me and to the American people.

As I said two years ago on this stage, I believe in the power of the free market. I believe in a strong financial sector that helps people to raise capital and get loans and invest their savings. But a free market was never meant to be a free license to take whatever you can get, however you can get it. That is what happened too often in the years leading up to the crisis. Some on Wall Street forgot that behind every dollar traded or leveraged, there is family looking to buy a house, pay for an education, open a business, or save for retirement. What happens here has real consequences across our country.

…

A comprehensive plan to achieve these reforms has passed the House of Representatives. A Senate version is currently being debated, drawing on the ideas of Democrats and Republicans. Both bills represent significant improvement on the flawed rules we have in place today, despite the furious efforts of industry lobbyists to shape them to their special interests. I am sure that many of those lobbyists work for some of you. But I am here today because I want to urge you to join us, instead of fighting us in this effort. I am here because I believe that these reforms are, in the end, not only in the best interest of our country, but in the best interest of our financial sector. And I am here to explain what reform will look like, and why it matters.

…

President Obama will also address the five key proposals he believes must be included in strong financial reform:

· A system to ensure that the financial system, the broader economy, and the American taxpayers are protected in the event that a large firm begins to fail

· The Volcker Rule, which sets limits on the size of banks and the risks that banking institutions can take

· Reforms that will bring new transparency to many financial markets, and bring derivatives and other complicated financial instruments out of the dark

· Strong consumer financial protections that will give American consumers more protection and power in our financial system, and

· Say on pay reforms that would give investors and pension holders a stronger role in determining who manages the companies in which they’ve placed their savings.

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THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
_______________________________________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 21, 2010

DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR
THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2010

In the morning, the President will travel to New York City, where he will deliver remarks at Cooper Union reminding Americans what’s at stake in the push to reform Wall Street and how the bill in the Senate draws on ideas from both sides of the aisle. The President will urge Wall Street to join him in the effort to reform the financial system — not fight it — and to lean on Washington to pass the tough Wall Street reform bill in front of the Senate that protects consumers, ends Too Big to Fail and brings transparency to the derivatives market. This event is pooled for TV and open to pre-credentialed correspondents and still photographers. The deadline to request credentials has passed.

The President will return to Washington, DC in the afternoon. The arrival on the South Lawn is open press.

Later, the President will meet with Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner in the Oval Office. This meeting is closed press. In the evening, the President will deliver remarks at an Earth Day reception in the Rose Garden. This event is pooled press.

In-Town Travel Pool
Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg
Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP
TV Corr & Crew: CBS
Print: Talking Points Memo
Radio: AP

Out-of-Town Travel Pool
Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg
Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP
TV Corr & Crew: CBS
Print: AFP
Radio: FOX

EDT

9:30AM In-Town Travel Pool Call Time

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT departs The White House en route Andrews Air Force Base
South Lawn
Open Press (Pre-set 9:30AM – Final Gather 9:45AM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

10:15AM THE PRESIDENT departs Andrews Air Force Base en route New York City, New York
Out-of-Town Travel Pool (Call Time 9:00AM – Virginia Gate, Andrews Air Force Base)

11:10AM THE PRESIDENT arrives in New York City, New York
John F. Kennedy International Airport
Open Press

11:55AM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks on Wall Street reform
Cooper Union
Pooled TV, Open to pre-credentialed correspondents & still photographers

1:05PM THE PRESIDENT departs New York City, New York en route Andrews Air Force Base
John F. Kennedy International Airport
Open Press

2:00PM THE PRESIDENT arrives at Andrews Air Force Base
Out-of-Town Travel Pool

2:15PM THE PRESIDENT arrives at The White House
South Lawn
Open Press (Pre-set 1:45PM – Final Gather 2:00PM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

3:30PM THE PRESIDENT meets with Secretary of the Treasury Geithner
Oval Office
Closed Press

5:30PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at Earth Day reception
Rose Garden
Pooled Press (Pre-set 4:30PM – Final Gather 5:10PM – North Doors of the Palm Room)

Briefing Schedule

Press Secretary Robert Gibbs will gaggle aboard Air Force One

##

WASHINGTON—President Obama on Wednesday tapped a Chicago federal prosecutor, Edmond E. Chang, for a seat on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

“Edmond Chang is an excellent candidate,” said Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), who as senior senator from the state established a bipartisan screening judicial panel to evaluate potential judges.

“Throughout his career, Chang has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to public service, and if confirmed will become the first Asian-American federal judge in Illinois. I was honored to recommend his name to President Obama. His extensive experience and distinguished record will be an asset to the Northern District of Illinois’ bench,” Durbin said.

Chang is now Chief of Appeals for the the U.S. Attorney’s Criminal Division. The Northwestern Law School graduate earlier was an associate in the Chicago office of Sidley Austin.

from the White House…

Edmond E. Chang: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Edmond E. Chang is an Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Chicago office, where he has represented the government in criminal cases at the trial and appellate levels since 1999. Since 2005, he has served as Chief of Appeals for the Criminal Division, and he previously served as Deputy Chief of the General Crimes section. From 1997 to 1999, he was an associate in the Chicago office of Sidley Austin LLP, where he practiced in labor and employment litigation. After law school, Chang was a law clerk to the Honorable James L. Ryan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and then for the Honorable Marvin E. Aspen of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Since 1996, he has served as an adjunct professor of law at Northwestern University School of Law teaching civil rights litigation. Chang received his B.S.E. in Aerospace Engineering (cum laude) in 1991 from the University of Michigan, and his J.D. (cum laude) in 1994 from Northwestern University School of Law.

##

from Sen. Dick Durbin……

April 21, 2010

DURBIN: WHITE HOUSE NOMINATES CHANG TO FILL FEDERAL JUDGESHIP IN NORTHERN DISTRICT

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that President Obama has nominated Edmond Chang for a federal judgeship on the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois. Chang is the third individual to be nominated to fill one of five pending vacancies in the Northern District. Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved the President’s first two nominations: Sharon Coleman and Gary Feinerman. Those nominations will now proceed to a vote by the full Senate.

“Edmond Chang is an excellent candidate,” said Durbin. “Throughout his career, Chang has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to public service, and if confirmed will become the first Asian-American federal judge in Illinois. I was honored to recommend his name to President Obama. His extensive experience and distinguished record will be an asset to the Northern District of Illinois’ bench.”

Chang has served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois since 1999, and he is currently the chief of appeals. He previously worked as an associate at Sidley Austin in Chicago, and as a judicial law clerk to Judge Marvin Aspen in the Northern District of Illinois and Judge James Ryan on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. He received a Star of Distinction award from the Chicago Crime Commission. He has served as an adjunct professor at Northwestern University law school, where he graduated with honors and served on the law review.

In April of last year, Durbin established three bipartisan screening committees to assist in selecting Federal District Court Judges, U.S. Attorneys, and U.S. Marshals for Illinois. The screening committees were comprised of 22 distinguished Illinoisans drawn from various aspects of the legal profession and include former judges, prominent litigators, law professors, bar association leaders, former prosecutors and defenders. Former federal judge and Illinois Congressman Abner Mikva chaired the Northern District Screening Panel.

Members of the screening committees met throughout the spring and early summer, reviewing applications and references, and conducting interviews. The screening committees recommended the names of several individuals for each vacancy. Durbin reviewed the screening committees’ recommendations, conducted interviews of finalists, and last fall, in consultation with members of the Illinois Congressional delegation, submitted the names of seven individuals to the President, who made the final decision on today’s nominee.

Once the President submits a nomination to the U.S. Senate, it will be reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which Senator Durbin is a member and the nominee will ultimately receive a vote in the committee. If approved by the Judiciary Committee, the nominee will then receive a vote by the full Senate.

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A federal judge in Chicago on Wednesday nixed a request from indicted former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to play all 500 hours of wiretaps at his corruption trial. The Chicago Sun-Times Natasha Korecki has the latest Blagojevich story.