J. Michael Luttig Resigns From Appeals Court
QUOTE
Appeals Court Judge Leaves Life Appointment for Boeing
By Jerry Markon
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, May 11, 2006; Page A11
J. Michael Luttig, the federal appeals court judge who was on President Bush's short list for the Supreme Court but recently clashed with the administration over a terrorism case, resigned from the bench yesterday to become senior vice president and general counsel at the Boeing Co.
In a letter to Bush, Luttig said he was leaving the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit because of the \"sheer serendipity\" of the chance to work for the nation's largest aerospace company. He said Boeing approached him several weeks ago and that he and his wife decided \"that this is a singular opportunity that we cannot forgo.\"
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The announcement stunned conservatives who agreed with Luttig's judicial philosophy and others because it is rare for a federal judge to leave a lifetime appointment to the bench.
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At Chicago-based Boeing, Luttig, 51, who lives in Vienna [a Virginia suburb of DC], will face a number of legal issues.
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Luttig, who worked for the administrations of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush and is considered a leading judicial conservative, was closely examined for the two Supreme Court vacancies that arose last year, lawyers familiar with the administration's deliberations have said. But those slots went to John G. Roberts Jr., now the chief justice, and Samuel A. Alito Jr.
Then, in December, Luttig issued a strongly worded opinion that rebuked the administration's actions in the case of \"enemy combatant\" José Padilla. Though Luttig had earlier written an opinion that strongly backed the president's authority to hold Padilla without charges or trial, he then refused to authorize Padilla's transfer to Justice Department custody to face criminal charges of terrorism.
Luttig wrote that the administration's actions left \"the impression that Padilla may have been held for these years, even if justifiably, by mistake.\" In a sharply worded reply brief, the Justice Department said Luttig's ruling had mischaracterized the events of Padilla's incarceration and gone so far as to \"usurp\" Bush's authority as commander-in-chief.
Friends of Luttig said yesterday that the financial lure of the Boeing job and the greater ability to pay for his children's college education -- Luttig has a 14-year-old daughter and a 10-year-old son -- were key to his resignation. Luttig's judicial salary was $171,800. Boeing would not reveal his compensation, but Frank H. Menaker Jr., who stepped down last year as general counsel at Bethesda-based Lockheed Martin Corp., earned $760,000 with an $893,500 bonus.
But the friends added that Luttig's disappointment over the nominations of Roberts and Scalia, combined with uncertainty over when another Supreme Court vacancy would occur, also played a role.
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Staff writer Renae Merle and researcher Madonna Lebling contributed to this report.
Edited: I shouldn't be surprised, but the Wikipedia entry for Luttig has already been updated to reflect the resignation. It even has a link to Luttig's letter of resignation.By Jerry Markon
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, May 11, 2006; Page A11
J. Michael Luttig, the federal appeals court judge who was on President Bush's short list for the Supreme Court but recently clashed with the administration over a terrorism case, resigned from the bench yesterday to become senior vice president and general counsel at the Boeing Co.
In a letter to Bush, Luttig said he was leaving the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit because of the \"sheer serendipity\" of the chance to work for the nation's largest aerospace company. He said Boeing approached him several weeks ago and that he and his wife decided \"that this is a singular opportunity that we cannot forgo.\"
....
The announcement stunned conservatives who agreed with Luttig's judicial philosophy and others because it is rare for a federal judge to leave a lifetime appointment to the bench.
....
At Chicago-based Boeing, Luttig, 51, who lives in Vienna [a Virginia suburb of DC], will face a number of legal issues.
....
Luttig, who worked for the administrations of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush and is considered a leading judicial conservative, was closely examined for the two Supreme Court vacancies that arose last year, lawyers familiar with the administration's deliberations have said. But those slots went to John G. Roberts Jr., now the chief justice, and Samuel A. Alito Jr.
Then, in December, Luttig issued a strongly worded opinion that rebuked the administration's actions in the case of \"enemy combatant\" José Padilla. Though Luttig had earlier written an opinion that strongly backed the president's authority to hold Padilla without charges or trial, he then refused to authorize Padilla's transfer to Justice Department custody to face criminal charges of terrorism.
Luttig wrote that the administration's actions left \"the impression that Padilla may have been held for these years, even if justifiably, by mistake.\" In a sharply worded reply brief, the Justice Department said Luttig's ruling had mischaracterized the events of Padilla's incarceration and gone so far as to \"usurp\" Bush's authority as commander-in-chief.
Friends of Luttig said yesterday that the financial lure of the Boeing job and the greater ability to pay for his children's college education -- Luttig has a 14-year-old daughter and a 10-year-old son -- were key to his resignation. Luttig's judicial salary was $171,800. Boeing would not reveal his compensation, but Frank H. Menaker Jr., who stepped down last year as general counsel at Bethesda-based Lockheed Martin Corp., earned $760,000 with an $893,500 bonus.
But the friends added that Luttig's disappointment over the nominations of Roberts and Scalia, combined with uncertainty over when another Supreme Court vacancy would occur, also played a role.
....
Staff writer Renae Merle and researcher Madonna Lebling contributed to this report.
[ May 11, 2006, 06:12 AM: Message edited by: twin58 ]