Shanetta Cutlar: All Fun and Games Until Someone Loses Her Job?
We like to keep things light around here. As far as we’re concerned, pretty much everything is entertainment. And if it’s not, then we’re not interested in covering it.
This is the spirit in which we’ve been writing about Shanetta Cutlar, the amusingly idiosyncratic chief of the Justice Department’s Special Litigation Section (SPL). But we’re getting concerned that the story might take a more serious turn.
Here are two things we’ve heard lately:
1. The mainstream media, in the form of the Legal Times, is sniffing around the story. They may be interested in covering it.2. Staffers from the House Judiciary Committee have contacted Ty Clevenger, the former DOJ lawyer who initially blew the whistle on La Shanetta. They may be conducting further investigation into goings-on over at SPL.
Covering the shenanigans of Shanetta has been great fun. We sincerely hope that the MSM and the House Judiciary Committee don’t hijack this story and turn it into some sober expose about DOJ abuses of power. Yawn.
We steer the discussion back in the direction of frivolity and fun, after the jump.
Here are some interesting comments from yesterday’s post about Shanetta Cutlar, in which we posted a photo of her for the first time:
I think she’s quite pretty! And I disagree with the prior comments re: her being played by Queen Latifah or Oprah Winfrey. I think we’re talking Lisa Nicole Carson (the black friend on Ally McBeal)….1:11 PM: hell no, you are definitely wrong! I suspect that you are not black. See here.
1:47 PM: Whom would you pick as Shanetta’s celebrity look-alike?
A portly Sherri Palmer.
We agree with that last suggestion. Compare Shanetta Cutlar with Sherry Palmer.
But here’s one other casting idea: Have Halle Berry gain 30 pounds for the role. That’s a second Oscar right there. Academy voters are suckers for weight gain.
Here’s one more reason to cast Halle Berry as Shanetta Cutlar. As we know from her Oscar-winning performance in Monster’s Ball — remember that heart-breaking scene in the emergency room? — Halle Berry is GREAT at screaming her head off.
Earlier: Prior coverage of the Special Litigation Section under Shanetta Cutlar (scroll down)
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Comments
Can someone summarize this whole shanetta cutler thing? What is going on here that is interesting?
Shanetta Cutlar is a magnificent DOJ Diva. Consider the following:
1. She yells at summer interns for not saying "hi" to her in the hall (during their first week on the job):
http://www.abovethelaw.com/2007/01/doj_diva_of_the_day_again_shan.php
2. She gets royally pissed if you stop "her" elevator on a floor that she isn't going to:
http://www.abovethelaw.com/2007/01/shanetta_cutlar.php
3. She uses a ruler to locate extra spaces in documents (so she can rip the offending lawyer a new one):
http://www.abovethelaw.com/2007/01/shanetta_y_cutlar_knows_how_to.php
4. She has driven dozens of lawyers out of her section during her time as Chief:
http://www.abovethelaw.com/2007/01/thats_why_they_call_it_the_spe_1.php
5. If you complain about her to higher-ups, she (allegedly) cans your ass:
http://www.abovethelaw.com/2007/01/doj_diva_of_the_day_shanetta_y.php
FABULOUS!!!
Summary here
http://www.abovethelaw.com/2007/01/doj_diva_of_the_day_shanetta_y.php
I'm too lazy to summarize it myself other than to say that she sounds like a really, really difficult boss.
Could Shanetta Cutlar be to David Lat as Monica Lewinsky was to Matt Drudge? Could Lat breaking this story vault him to the top of Forbes' most influential on the web? Could Shanetta get any more addicting? Stay tuned....
I hope an investigation is made and she is fired. She is an abusive boss and should be fired for her behavior. It is unacceptable for a DOJ manger to act the way she does.
I hope an investigation is made and she is fired. She is an abusive boss and should be fired for her behavior. It is unacceptable for a DOJ manger to act the way she does.
I agree 100%. Who cares if this story takes a more "serious" turn and causes her to lose her job? If the truth hurts, so be it! Granted no one is forced to work under her, but the fact that she has caused high turnover in that section costs taxpayers money in recruiting, interviewing and training replacements for those who quit or are fired.
It would be nice to hear from anyone who currently works in Shanetta's lair. How has she been behaving since these posts began last week?
I haven't heard from any CURRENT denizens of Shanettaville. But I hear through the grapevine that they're following the coverage with great interest (even if they are too scared to send in tips themselves).
The latest stuff I have on Shanetta is some of the best ever. Look for it later today!
Couldn't happen to a better person if she does lose her job.