Obama Nominee Dawn Johnsen Gains Committee Approval

Dawn Johnsen, President Obama’s selection to lead the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel, gained approval from the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday and her nomination will now be forwarded to the full Senate.

Johnsen was approved by a 12 to 7 vote that ran according to party lines. Republicans remain critical of Johnsen for comments she has made in the past with regards to abortion and national security. If approved, Johnsen would serve as a top aide to Attorney General Eric Holder.

Johnsen was first nominated to be an assistant attorney general in March 2009 and was subsequently approved by the Judiciary Committee. However, she failed to gain full confirmation when the Senate elected not to conduct a vote prior to its winter recess. She was renominated by Obama on Jan. 20.

Johnsen is currently on faculty at Maurer School of Law at Indiana University where she teaches Constitutional law.  She is also a former deputy assistant attorney general, a position she held from 1993 thru 1996.