Prosecutor Purge Is Illegal, Lawyer Argues

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002409.php

An Arkansas lawyer has risen to challenge the law which allows the administration to circumvent Senate approval when installing new U.S. Attorneys.

On behalf of his client, an alleged crack cocaine dealer who's accused of killing a man he'd robbed to prevent him from talking to the police, Little Rock lawyer John Hall has challenged the appointment of Timothy Griffin, the recently-appointed U.S. Attorney for eastern Arkansas with close ties to the White House.

Griffin's resume is long on Republican bona fides and short on the sort of law experience usually expected of U.S. Attorneys. He was installed by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, and thanks to a measure slipped into the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act last year, may never face Senate confirmation.

Hall's motion argues that because Griffin's appointment circumvented Senate confirmation, it was unconstitutional -- thus rendering the prosecution of his client invalid. "Contrary to the , I've actually read the Constitution a few times," Hall told us.

[drm604]

1. K&R for John Hall!

:patriot::yourock::toast::applause:

And a smiley for Gonzales.
:puke:

[napi21]

2. First, I can't believe this is Arkansas!! I agree with the lawyer, but

I really wish he had a different case at hand. I think Gonzo is way off the mark on his appointing US Attorneys without Senate approval, and I hope the NEW Senate willsmack him down on this. I also hope the defence case of a drug dealer doesn't hinder the process.

[ReadTomPaine]

3. I'd like to see more political opposition to this purge as well. It's good news to hear...

that challenges are already popping up in other areas of government.

[drm604]

4. Kick Kick Kick!

:kick::kick::kick:

Kicking for the Friday morning crowd. This could be an important story. It needs two more recs.