Officials Say Justice Dept. Based Hires on Politics Before Goodling Tenure

[cal04]

The Justice Department considered political affiliation in screening applicants for immigration court judgeships for several years until hiring was frozen in December after objections from department lawyers, current and former officials said yesterday.

The disclosures mean that the Justice Department may have violated civil service laws, which prohibit political considerations in hiring, for as long as two years before the tenure of Monica M. Goodling, the former aide to Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales who testified about the practice this week.

Goodling told the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday that she "crossed the line" in considering political affiliation for several categories of career applicants at Justice, including immigration judges.

The attorney for D. Kyle Sampson, Gonzales's former chief of staff, said yesterday that Sampson and other officials also forwarded names of politically connected applicants for the immigration courts, based on legal advice that Sampson was given and on common historical practice in the department.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/25/AR2007052502124.html

[Kagemusha]

1. IMHO, it's not so much who they hired as who they blocked for political reasons

In other words, blocking perfectly qualified people because they did not kiss the boot of the party in power - for career civil service positions that are supposed to be non-political.

[blogslut]

2. And this revelation helps them how?

n/t

[BR_Parkway]

3. Admit the smallest thing, maybe everyone is distracted from the bigger

ones?

It never worked with my Mom when I was growing up, but I still tried it alot...

[prole_for_peace]

4. let me say that i am SHOCKED!!! n/t