Another Justice official goes but for his own reasons (Oliphant -The Swamp / re: Keisler)

[struggle4progress]

by James Oliphant

Peter Keisler Thursday became the latest high-ranking Justice Department official to head for the exit ...

He played a key role in large civil cases such as the government's massive suit against the tobacco industry and in 2005 signed off on a controversial decision to reduce the amount sought from the industry in that case from $130 billion to $10 billion.

But instead of another referendum on the chaos at the Justice Department, Keisler's departure probably means he has given up any hope of securing the D.C. appeals court seat to which President Bush appointed him in 2006. Once Democrats regained control of the Senate, Keisler's nomination went on the fast track to nowhere ...

In the meantime, Bush hasn't surrendered on the judicial nomination front. Thursday he nominated Duncan Getchell, a Virginia lawyer, and Steve Matthews, a lawyer from South Carolina, to seats on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit. Activists on the right have criticized the White House for failing to fill several empty seats on the 4th Circuit, which has long been a conservative stronghold, fearing that a Democratic victory in the presidential race next year could tilt the court in the other direction. Getchell and Matthews join North Carolina's Robert Conrad as 4th Circuit nominees awaiting confirmation by the Senate.

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2007/09/another_justice_official_goes.html

... Peter Keisler ran the administration's fight over detainee rights at Guantanamo ...
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/004094.php


Associated Press
Bush Administration Wants Open Borders
By PAUL ELIAS 08.30.07, 8:50 PM ET

SAN FRANCISCO - The Bush administration urged a federal appeals court Thursday to let Mexican cargo trucks cross the border and freely travel anywhere in the United States, arguing that to do otherwise could strain diplomatic relations between the two nations ... "Participating Mexican carriers must comply with all legal requirements governing operations of domestically owned carriers, and in some cases stricter requirements," wrote Assistant Attorney General Peter Keisler ...

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/08/30/ap4070834.html