By CONGRESSDAILY STAFF
Outspoken Indiana University law professor Dawn Johnsen was approved today by the Senate Judiciary Committee to be the first woman to head the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel. Her nomination was sent to the Senate on an 11-7 vote, with all Republicans opposed except ranking member Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, who "passed," saying he was reserving judgment until he could interview her more closely.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, assailed her strong opposition to Office of Legal Counsel rulings on the war on terrorism during the Bush administration and even her reluctance to use the word "war." He also questioned her legal judgment on such issues as her opposition to the Indiana voter identification law upheld by the Supreme Court. "She has not demonstrated a record of seriousness on national security matters," said Cornyn, who called her a "hardened partisan." Democrats rose to her defense, with Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., saying he expected a long fight over her nomination.
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