Who Will Be the Next AG? Michael Mukasey
No official announcement has been made (despite the claim of Wikipedia that “[o]n September 16, 2007, President George W. Bush nominated Mukasey to serve as the 81st Attorney General of the United States”). But numerous news outlets are reporting that President Bush has selected Michael B. Mukasey — currently a partner at Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler in New Yorker, and former chief judge of the S.D.N.Y. — as his attorney general nominee, to replace Alberto Gonzales.
We’ll have more to say after an official announcement, which could come as early as tomorrow morning. In the meantime, read Judge Mukasey’s interesting, frequently cited Wall Street Journal op-ed piece, on the Jose Padilla case (which he handled in part).
If you have firsthand experience with Judge Mukasey — e.g., as a litigant who has appeared before him, or as one of his law clerks — please share your thoughts in the comments, or by email. Thanks.
Bush plans to pick Mukasey for A.G. [Politico.com]
Bush Settles on Mukasey to Replace Gonzales [Washington Post]
Bush Expected to Name Judge as Gonzales’s Successor [New York Times]
Judge Top Contender to Replace Gonzales: Aide [Reuters]
Bush Picks Mukasey as Attorney General [AP]
Sources: Retired judge may replace Gonzales [CNN]
Jose Padilla Makes Bad Law [Wall Street Journal]
Michael B. Mukasey [Wikipedia]
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Comments
This should make Chuck Schumer happy.
Judge Mukasey spoke at our graduation. He gave a great speech and didnt shy away from agreesive talk regarding terrorism and national security post 9/11. Very impressive. And all the liberal ninnies at the school went nuts - which confirmed his status as a great person.
Judge Mukasey spoke at our graduation. He gave a great speech and didnt shy away from agressive talk on terrorism and national security post 9/11. Very impressive. And all the liberal ninnies at the school went nuts - which confirmed his status as a great person.
This was already on the WSJ Law Blog (yesterday).
Check out this article on Mukasey:
http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2006/07/21/judge-michael-mukasey-to-join-patterson-belknap/
Someone should take a look at what percentage of his civil opinions got reversed . . . . Seems to me it was pretty high. Perhaps he was chosen for his name recognition based on the Rahman and Padilla cases rather than on his judicial acumen.
that op ed was terrible
that op ed was terrible
Former Mukasey clerk here, speaking freely. I know the man well and we remain close (he came to my wedding) and I am happy for him. On the other hand, I'm not too thrilled for our country. Michael is a good man and was a competent judge, but that was about it. He will admit it himself, he was around the median intellect of district judges and was no genius. I would look at him as hovering around the floor of AG qualifications and I suspect that the administration does not want someone too aggressive or independent to look too closely. I would think that the AG position would merit a better candidate. He would have made a great Secretary of the Interior.
Mukasey: more qualified than Harriet Miers and twice as palatable.
I can't imagine the above poster was actually a former Mukasey clerk (no former clerk would call him Michael). Judge Mukasey had a well-deserved reputation among the bar for both brilliance and fairness. The country is lucky to have him.
I know Mukasey personally, although I never appeared before him. He's a great guy, and far, far more competent than any who have gone before him in this administration. I don't know whether 3:31 is really a former Mukasey clerk and has inside knowledge about his legal acumen, but I can tell you that I am much more comfortable having Mukasey in this job than some @$$-kissing Bush crony, which Mukasey is not.
To: September 17, 2007 07:43 AM
Remember, this is an idiots blog meant only to entertain (especially the comments section). Don't take it too seriously.
what happened to AGs Silberman and Terwilliger?
Silberman reportedly passed on the job.
I had Mukasey for trial practice at Columbia. While I am not aware of his political views, he seemed like a pretty reasonable man - and that is best I could hope for from this president.
op-ed = bad
I'm baffled as to what being a great judge would have to do with with being a great AG. Sure you don't want an idiot, but it seems like being the AG would be more about leadership and less about parsing the sentencing guidelines.
I call BS on 3:31 AM. Maybe I am being a prestige whore, but Mukasey is Yale Law, AUSA in SDNY, and DJ in SDNY. I am sure he is plenty smart (and sharper than AlGo).
Mukasey is my father. He even came to my wedding. He will be a great AG.
F U if you don't beleive me.
Bush picked Mukasey.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/17/AR2007091700515.html?hpid=topnews
11:56, um, Bush went to Yale, was the governor of Texas, and is now president of the United States. *Having* an impressive resume doesn't mean you've earned one.
2:54, um, Bush is the exception not the rule. There is every indication that Mukasey is bright and talented. Now we just to need for him to not have his head up his ass, an affliction that his predecessor tragically suffered from.
Bush was a Yale undergrad, not Yale law. And he was a massive legacy candidate, since practically everyone in his family had gone to Yale.