Dawn Johnsen Withdraws OLC Nomination

Score one for the Republicans. Dawn Johnsen announced Friday she is no longer under consideration to lead the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel. Johnsen’s Senate confirmation for the post had been delayed for more than a year because of strong opposition from conservatives, largely because of her views on abortion rights. Johnsen, who was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee last month, on Fridayacknowledged she was never going to get a final Senate confirmation vote.

“Restoring OLC to its best nonpartisan traditions was my primary objective for my anticipated service in this administration,” Johnsen said in a statement. “Unfortunately, my nomination has met with lengthy delays and political opposition that threaten that objective and prevent OLC from functioning at full strength. I hope that the withdrawal of my nomination will allow this important office to be filled promptly.”

In its own statement, the White House declared “it is now clear that Senate Republicans will not allow her to be confirmed.”

Johnsen was first nominated in early 2009 and then was renominated by President Obama earlier this year. She remains 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.