Text 2587, 115 rader
Skriven 2006-05-08 23:34:54 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (060508k) for Mon, 2006 May 8
===================================================
===========================================================================
Setting the Record Straight: The ABA Finds Brett Kavanaugh Is "Indeed
Qualified to Serve on the Federal Bench"
===========================================================================

For Immediate Release
May 8, 2006

Setting the Record Straight: The ABA Finds Brett Kavanaugh Is "Indeed
Qualified to Serve on the Federal Bench"


˙˙˙˙˙ In Focus: Judicial Nominations ˙˙˙˙˙ Setting the Record Straight

"In 42 votes cast in the three ABA reviews, all 42 found Mr. Kavanaugh to
be well qualified or qualified to serve on the DC Circuit. The ABA itself
says that even the lowest of the three ratings is, in its words, 'a very
high standard.'"

-White House Deputy Press Secretary Dana Perino
May 8, 2006

The Associated Press: "ABA Downgrades Rating For White House Aide From
Well-Qualified To Qualified." (Laurie Kellman, "ABA Downgrades Rating For
White House Aide From Well-Qualified To Qualified," The Associated Press,
5/8/06)

    But According To ABA Review Panel Chairman Stephen Tober, Kavanaugh Is
    "Indeed Qualified To Serve On The Federal Bench." TOBER: "This nominee
    enjoys a solid reputation for integrity, intellectual capacity, and
    writing and analytical ability. ... A substantial majority of the
    Standing Committee believes that Mr. Kavanaugh is indeed qualified to
    serve on the federal bench." (Stephen L. Tober, Committee On The
    Judiciary, U.S. Senate, Testimony, 5/8/06)

    Tober Himself Notes That "There Is No Bright-Line Litmus Test As To
    Whether A Nominee Is 'Well Qualified' Or 'Qualified.'" TOBER: "It is,
    at its most basic, the difference between the 'highest standard' and a
    'very high standard.'" (Stephen L. Tober, Committee On The Judiciary,
    U.S. Senate, Testimony, 5/8/06)

    According To The ABA's "Backgrounder," A "Qualified" Rating Means The
    Committee Believes A Nominee Will Be Able To Perform "All Duties And
    Responsibilities" Of A Federal Judge. TOBER: "The Backgrounder also
    makes clear that '(t)he rating of 'Qualified' means that the nominee
    meets the Committee's very high standards with respect to integrity,
    professional competence and judicial temperament and that the Committee
    believes that the nominee will be able to perform satisfactorily all of
    the duties and responsibilities required by the high office of a
    federal judge.'" (Stephen L. Tober, Committee On The Judiciary, U.S.
    Senate, Testimony, 5/8/06)

    Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA): "[The ABA Rating Is] Just A Shading. ...
    He's Got A Very Strong Record." (Laurie Kellman, "ABA Downgrades Rating
    For White House Aide From Well-Qualified To Qualified," The Associated
    Press, 5/8/06)

    Brett M. Kavanaugh Is Superbly Qualified For The D.C. Circuit

    Throughout His Career, Brett Kavanaugh Has Demonstrated Legal
    Excellence And The Fair-Minded Temperament To Serve As A Federal
    Appellate Judge. Kavanaugh has an extraordinary range of experience in
    the public and private sectors. He has dedicated the majority of his 16
    years of practice to public service as an appellate lawyer, a
    government lawyer, and an Assistant to the President.

    Kavanaugh Now Serves As Assistant To The President And Staff Secretary.
    He is responsible for coordinating virtually all documents to and from
    the President. He previously served as Senior Associate Counsel and
    Associate Counsel to the President, during which time he worked on
    numerous constitutional, legal, and ethical issues.

    Prior To His Service In This Administration, Kavanaugh Was A Partner At
    The Law Firm Of Kirkland _ Kavanaugh also served as an Associate
    Counsel in the Office of Independent Counsel, where he handled a number
    of difficult constitutional issues presented during that investigation.
    Kavanaugh specialized in appellate law and has extensive experience in
    the Federal appellate courts, both as a law clerk and as counsel.
    Kavanaugh has argued both civil and criminal matters before the U.S.
    Supreme Court and appellate courts throughout the country.

    Kavanaugh Clerked For U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, As
    Well As Judge Alex Kozinski Of The Ninth Circuit And Judge Walter
    Stapleton Of The Third Circuit. Prior to his Supreme Court clerkship,
    Kavanaugh earned a prestigious fellowship in the Office of the
    Solicitor General of the United States. The Solicitor General's office
    represents the United States before the Supreme Court.

    The American Bar Association (ABA) Has Consistently Rated Kavanaugh
    "Well Qualified" Or "Qualified" To Serve On The D.C. Circuit. The ABA
    has rated Brett Kavanaugh qualified to serve on the D.C. Circuit on
    three separate occasions. In other words, 42 out of 42 ABA individual
    ratings found that Mr. Kavanaugh is either Well Qualified or Qualified
    to serve on the D.C. Circuit. And the majority of those 42 raters found
    Mr. Kavanaugh to be Well Qualified to serve on the D.C. Circuit.

    Kavanaugh Has Impeccable Academic Credentials. He received his B.A. cum
    laude from Yale College and his law degree from Yale Law School, where
    he served as Notes Editor of the Yale Law Journal.

    Kavanaugh Has Offered His Legal Expertise And Personal Time To Serving
    His Community. While in private practice, Kavanaugh took on pro bono
    matters, including representation of the Adat Shalom congregation in
    Montgomery County, Maryland, against the attempt to stop construction
    of a synagogue in the county. Kavanaugh also represented, on a pro bono
    basis, six-year-old Elian Gonzalez after the Immigration and
    Naturalization Service decided to return him to Cuba.

# # #

===========================================================================
Return to this article at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/05/20060508-20.html

 * Origin: (1:3634/12)