As an assistant U.S. Attorney, she played a major role in the prosecution of Don Hill, et al. After a bipartisan commission studied the possible candidates, senators John Cornyn and Kay Hutchison selected her from the list (by tradition, senators approve U.S. attorneys for their states). But there’s a hitch. Oddly, it’s from Democratic Congressman Lloyd Doggett of Austin, who seems to think that if there’s a Democratic White House, Democrats like him ought to have the prerogative of making recommendations, not the state’s two senators, who happen to be Republicans. What makes that odd is that Saldana is a Democrat, and, judging by the verdict in the Hill case, an able and effective one at that. I’ve known Doggett since he was at UT, and this is the kind of game he loves. Fortunately for Saldana, I can also report that, like Tim with golf, as much as Doggett loves the game, he is not often very good at it.
(I tried to get the inside scoop on this dogfight from a really, really, really good source, but he wisely has neglected to return my phone calls — as I would ,too, if my wife’s appointmet was the bone over which the dogs were fighting.)
6 comments
Sarah Saldana would be an excellent US Attorney. She’s widely respected by the bar here. I hope politics takes a back seat to selecting a good attorney, which she certainly is.
I agree with Bill H — she is well respected and would be an excellent choice. Don, ranch up and weigh in!
This selection has everything to do with politics. The Democrats picked Terri Moore, who is also widely respected in the Dallas Bar and would make an excellent U.S. Attorney. Either Moore or Saldana would do a good job. The issue is not the quality (or lack thereof) of the nominees – they’re both qualified.
What’s interesting is that Cornyn and Hutchinson previously had no problem with Terri Moore, who the Democrats named on Wednesday. But when Doggett beat Cornyn to the punch on naming their selection, I think Cornyn got pissed and now wants to make a point: you cannot get a nominee approved in Texas unless you do it with Cornyn’s blessing.
I think it’s possible that both Moore and Saldana get screwed in this fight between the Senators and the Texas Democrats over the “right” to pick the nominations. Who’s going to blink? I don’t see either side backing down, at least not for a while. I think we’ll either be without a U.S. Attorney for some time, or a “compromise” nominee emerges, who likely won’t be Moore or Saldana. (In the meantime, though, Moore and Saldana may have to endure potshots about how they’re “not qualified,” and how the other side’s selection is so much better. Neither deserves to bear the brunt of that.)
What’s surprising is that the Senators and Democrats are having this fight over a position with a potentially short shelf life, as opposed to, say, a federal judge with a lifetime appointment.
Fred, you are certainly right about Terri Moore.
http://www.dallasda.com/staff-moore.html
Our acting US Attorney Jim Jacks is a very good lawyer and prosecutor and is doing a good job as interim, still we should have a US Attorney, and these Senators should stop playing games.
When Doggett submitted their list to the White House today it did not contain a recommendation for the Dallas Office,I’ve been told so maybe Saldana will get the nod.
Being on the job should be a plus for her.
Thanks all for the insight….reinforces that most naional,state and local politics are waged on the middle school playground.