what role has jeff sessions played in appointing federal judges as attorney general

by Declan Durgan Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago 6 min read

Did Jeff Sessions take control of the Justice Department?

Dec 12, 2016 · Jeff Sessions—whose civil rights history was so troubling that a Republican Senate refused to confirm him as a federal judge in the 1980s—was confirmed today to serve as U.S. Attorney General. “Sessions’ abysmal record of opposition to fundamental civil rights and environmental protections disqualifies him for service as head of our federal department …

What does Jeff Sessions stand for?

Mar 30, 2018 · After working as Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama from 1975-77, Sessions was appointed by President Ronald Reagan as U.S. attorney for the same region in 1981.

Is Jeff Sessions fighting for his life in Alabama?

Nov 13, 2017 · Attorney General Jeff Sessions today announced the appointment of nine new U.S. Attorneys to serve two-year terms on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys (AGAC). ... These U.S. Attorneys will play an important role in carrying out the Department of Justice’s mission to reduce violent crime, combat transnational ...

Did Donald Trump select Jeff Sessions for Attorney General?

During his 20 years in the Senate, they say, Sessions has used his perch on the judiciary committee to block nearly every black candidate for a judgeship in his state. “The senator has a …

See more

Jan 10, 2017 · Back in 1986, Sessions was a 39-year-old U.S. attorney for Alabama when President Ronald Reagan's administration nominated …

What is Jeff Sessions known for?

A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as United States Senator from Alabama from 1997 to 2017 before resigning that position to serve as attorney general in the administration of President Donald Trump. From 1981 to 1993, Sessions served as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama.

How old is Jeff Sessions?

75 years (December 24, 1946)Jeff Sessions / Age

Where is Jeff Sessions from?

Selma, ALJeff Sessions / Place of birthSelma is a city in and the county seat of Dallas County, in the Black Belt region of south central Alabama and extending to the west. Located on the banks of the Alabama River, the city has a population of 20,756 as of the 2010 census. About 80% of the population is African-American. Wikipedia

Who is Jeff Sessions wife?

Mary Blackshear SessionsJeff Sessions / Wife (m. 1969)

Are Jeff and Pete Sessions related?

Pete Sessions is not related to former Senator and Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

How tall is Jeff Sessions?

5′ 5″Jeff Sessions / Height

Who was attorney general before Barr?

William BarrPresidentGeorge H. W. BushPreceded byDonald B. AyerSucceeded byGeorge J. Terwilliger IIIUnited States Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel30 more rows

Who was the previous attorney general of the United States?

List of U.S. attorneys generalAttorney GeneralYears of serviceMerrick Garland2021-PresentCharles Lee1795-1801William Bradford1794-1795Edmund Jennings Randolph1789-179482 more rows

When was Sessions sworn in as Attorney General?

He was confirmed and sworn in as Attorney General in February 2017. In his confirmation hearings, Sessions stated under oath that he did not have contact with Russian officials during the 2016 presidential campaign and that he was unaware of any contact between Trump campaign members and Russian officials.

When was Sessions elected?

Sessions was elected Attorney General of Alabama in November 1994, unseating incumbent Democrat Jimmy Evans with 57% of the vote. The harsh criticism he had received from Senator Edward Kennedy, who called him a "throw-back to a shameful era" and a "disgrace", was considered to have won him the support of Alabama conservatives.

What did Sessions say about sanctuary cities?

On March 27, 2017, Sessions told reporters that sanctuary cities failing to comply with policies of the Trump administration would lose federal funding, and cited the shooting of Kathryn Steinle as an example of an illegal immigrant committing a heinous crime.

Why did Trump nominate Sessions?

Trump would later state in an August 22, 2018 interview with Fox News' Ainsley Earhardt that the only reason he nominated Sessions was because Sessions was an original supporter during his presidential campaign. The nomination engendered support and opposition from various groups and individuals. He was introduced by Senator Susan Collins from Maine who said, "He's a decent individual with a strong commitment to the rule of law. He's a leader of integrity. I think the attacks against him are not well founded and are unfair." More than 1,400 law school professors wrote a letter urging the Senate to reject the nomination. A group of black pastors rallied in support of Sessions in advance of his confirmation hearing; his nomination was supported by Gerald A. Reynolds, an African American former chairman of the United States Commission on Civil Rights. Six NAACP activists, including NAACP President Cornell William Brooks, were arrested at a January 2017 sit-in protesting the nomination.

What did Sessions say at the 2017 police week?

Sessions's views on drugs and crime have since softened.

Why did Sessions write a letter to the National Endowment for the Humanities?

In 2013, Sessions sent a letter to National Endowment for the Humanities enquiring why the foundation funded projects that he deemed frivolous. He also criticized the foundation for distributing books related to Islam to hundreds of U.S. libraries, saying "Using taxpayer dollars to fund education program grant questions that are very indefinite or in an effort to seemingly use Federal funds on behalf of just one religion, does not on its face appear to be the appropriate means to establish confidence in the American people that NEH expenditures are wise."

How many children does Jeff Sessions have?

Sessions and his wife Mary have three children and as of March 2020, ten grandchildren. The family attends a United Methodist church. Specifically, Jeff and Mary Sessions are members of the Ashland Place United Methodist Church in Mobile, Alabama; Jeff Sessions has taught Sunday school there.

Who did Sessions appoint to investigate the FBI?

Along with the president, other Republican lawmakers called on Sessions to appoint a special counsel to investigate the FBI for possible surveillance abuses. Sessions declined to take that step, though in late March he revealed that he had tapped U.S. Attorney for Utah John Huber to help review the case.

What did Attorney General Sessions say about collusion?

On June 13, 2017, Attorney General Sessions testified before a Senate Intelligence Committee, and said in his opening statement: "The suggestion that I participated in any collusion or that I was aware of any collusion with the Russian government to hurt this country, which I have served with honor for 35 years, or to undermine the integrity of our democratic process, is an appalling and detestable lie."

Why did Sessions not investigate Hillary Clinton?

Trump also openly wondered why Sessions wasn't investigating 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, for actions that included the Clinton Foundation's ties to the 2010 sale of a uranium company to a Russian nuclear agency. The calls to investigate Clinton were echoed by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, who twice wrote to the DOJ to request the appointment of another special counsel for the matter.

What was Sessions' focus on?

Throughout his congressional service, Sessions was noted for his conservative focus on maintaining a strong military and law enforcement, limiting the role of government, cracking down on illegal immigration and being a budget hawk.

When was Sessions confirmed?

Following a wave of Democratic opposition and protests from civil and human rights organizations, Sessions was confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate in February 2017.

Where was Jefferson Sessions born?

Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III was born on December 24, 1946, in Selma, Alabama, the son of a general store owner, and grew up in the rural town of Hybart. Nicknamed "Buddy," he was very active in the Boy Scouts, and eventually became an Eagle Scout in 1964.

Did Sessions have a meeting with the Russian ambassador?

Meetings with Russian Ambassador. On March 1, 2017, The Washington Post reported that Sessions had two conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, in July and September 2016, when Sessions was a senator. Sessions did not disclose the meetings during his confirmation hearing as attorney general.

How many terms does Jeff Sessions have?

Attorney General Jeff Sessions today announced the appointment of nine new U.S. Attorneys to serve two-year terms on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys (AGAC). AGAC was created in 1973 and reports to the Attorney General through the Deputy Attorney General.

Who is the acting attorney for Alaska?

Bryan Schroder’s nomination to be United States Attorney for the District of Alaska is pending in the Senate. Mr. Schroder is currently the Acting United States Attorney for the District of Alaska, and previously served as the First Assistant United States Attorney and Criminal Chief. Mr. Schroder has served in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for more than 11 years. Mr. Schroder is a retired Captain in the U.S. Coast Guard, having served for 24 years. Mr. Schroder graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and the University of Washington School of Law.

Who is the US Attorney for Utah?

John W. Huber (Vice Chair) Since June 2015, John Huber has served as the United States Attorney for the District of Utah, and in August 2017, the Senate again confirmed his appointment.

Who was the first US senator to endorse Trump?

Sessions has been a key adviser to the Trump campaign from very close to the beginning. He was the first member of the US Senate to endorse Trump. Even before then, he played a key role in the development of Trump’s immigration platform — if he and his staff didn’t write the platform themselves, it certainly bore more resemblance to ideas that Sessions had been advancing as head of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s subcommittee on immigration than it did to Trump’s own comments on the subject.

Who is the head of Breitbart?

So far, outrage over the incoming Trump administration has focused on Steve Bannon — who, in the words of my colleague Zack Beauchamp, “spent years mainstreaming white nationalism” as head of Breitbart, and whom Trump has appointed to a “chief strategist” role equal in importance to chief of staff.

Where was Jeff Sessions in 2016?

There he was in early 2016, beaming from the campaign stage in the Huntsville, Ala., suburb of Madison before a crowd of more than 10,000, Trump’s prized opening act, extolling the inception of a “movement.”.

Where is the former Attorney General fighting for his political life?

The former attorney general is fighting for his political life in Alabama’s Sen ate race, in the shadow of a president who still despises him.

What did Sessions say about the Ku Klux Klan?

During his confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee, a black assistant U.S. attorney testified that Sessions had once called him “boy” (which Sessions denied) and said the Ku Klux Klan was “OK until I found out they smoked pot” (which Sessions said was a joke).

Where is Jeff Sessions' corner booth?

On a recent June afternoon, after a long day of running for the Senate, Jeff Sessions retired to a corner booth at a Ruby Tuesday in the south Alabama town of Bay Minette. He wore a blue-and-white gingham button shirt and gray slacks. His eyes were a touch bloodshot and bleary.

Did Sessions start a think tank?

Another heave of the wheel. Sessions considered starting a think tank, an institution that would endeavor to lend a scholarly heft to the right-wing populism that he had long espoused and that was now co-defined with Trump, but he was unable to find financing for the project.

Is Sessions' voice strained?

Before voters, Sessions’s voice can seem vaguely strained, flecked with irritation, even, when unwinding the events of the past four years. It is not so much that he is tired of rehashing his decision to recuse himself, the D.O.J. regulations and whatnot that required it, though undoubtedly that is part of it.

Did Sessions endorse Tuberville?

Sessions can probably thank Trump for this. The president remains more popular in Alabama than in virtually any other state, and on March 10, he endorsed Tuberville in a pair of tweets, calling him a “REAL LEADER.”.

Overview

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama (1981–1993)

Sessions was an Assistant United States Attorney in the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama beginning in 1975. In 1981, President Reagan nominated him to be the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama. The Senate confirmed him and he held that position for twelve years. In 1993, Sessions resigned his post after Democrat Bill Clinton was elected President of the United States.

Early life and early career

Sessions was born in Selma, Alabama, on December 24, 1946, the son of Jefferson Beauregard Sessions, Jr., and the former Abbie Powe. Sessions, his father, and his grandfather were named after Jefferson Davis, a U.S. senator and president of the Confederate States of America, and P. G. T. Beauregard, a veteran of the Mexican-American War and a Confederate general who oversaw the Battle of Fort Sumter that commenced the American Civil War. His father owned a general st…

Failed nomination for federal trial court judgeship (1986)

In 1986, Reagan nominated Sessions to be a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama. Sessions's judicial nomination was recommended and actively backed by Republican Alabama senator Jeremiah Denton. A substantial majority of the American Bar AssociationStanding Committee on the Federal Judiciary, which rates nominees to the federal bench, rated Sessions "qualified", with a minority voting tha…

Alabama attorney general (1995–1997)

Sessions was elected Attorney General of Alabama in November 1994, unseating incumbent Democrat Jimmy Evans with 57% of the vote. The harsh criticism he had received from Senator Ted Kennedy, who called him a "throw-back to a shameful era" and a "disgrace", was considered to have won him the support of Alabama conservatives.

U.S. Senate (1997–2017)

In 1996, Sessions won the Republican primary for U.S. Senate, after a runoff, and then defeated Democrat Roger Bedford 53%–46% in the November general election. He succeeded Howell Heflin (a Democrat), who had retired after 18 years in the Senate, making his victory a Republican pickup in the Senate.
Following the Columbine High School massacrein April 1999, Sessions took pa…

Attorney General of the United States (2017–2018)

President-elect Trump announced on November 18, 2016, that he would nominate Sessions to be Attorney General of the United States. Trump would later state in an August 22, 2018 interview with Fox News' Ainsley Earhardtthat the only reason he nominated Sessions was because Sessions was an original supporter during his presidential campaign. The nomination engendered supp…

U.S. Senate campaign (2020)

In October 2019, Sessions began exploring a potential candidacy for his old Senate seat in the 2020 election. On November 7, 2019, Sessions, the night before the deadline to file in the hyper-competitive Republican race, announced his candidacy. The winner of the Republican primary would challenge incumbent Democrat Doug Jones.