WaPo: In U.S. Attorney's Offices, Help Wanted

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/16/AR2007061601080.html?nav=rss_politics

In U.S. Attorney's Offices, Help Wanted
Justice Dept. Seeking Replacements for Departing Temporary Prosecutors

By Dan Eggen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, June 17, 2007; Page A04

The Justice Department is scrambling to find willing replacements for nearly two dozen temporary U.S. attorneys, whose time in office is now limited under a law signed last week by President Bush.

The developments add to growing personnel problems at the Justice Department in the wake of last year's firings of nine U.S. attorneys, which led to a political confrontation with Congress, lowered morale and contributed to an exodus of officials from the upper ranks of the department.

A quarter of all federal prosecutors are now on the job on an interim or acting basis -- reflecting a vacancy rate that is much higher than normal, according to department statistics. Five senior Justice Department officials have also resigned since March, including one who announced his departure Friday.

"There are certainly a lot of vacancies, even for the end of an administration," said Dennis Boyd, executive director of the National Association of Assistant U.S. Attorneys. "For some turnover to be occurring is not that big of a surprise, but the department has handled . . . so poorly that you're left with an unusual situation."

The situation became more complicated this week, when Bush signed a bill overturning legislation that allowed Gonzales to appoint interim prosecutors for an indefinite period. Without that authority, the Justice Department has 120 days to fill vacancies with nominees subject to Senate confirmation, or appointees will named by local federal courts.

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[Somawas]

1. Harder than ever to find a loyal Bushie to hook up with one of those jobs, I guess.

nt