NARAL Pro-Choice America is mobilizing its nationwide activist network to confirm two key Obama nominees—Judge David Hamilton and Prof. Dawn Johnsen—and to stop anti-choice attacks on these nominees simply because they've taken pro-choice positions.

About Prof. Dawn Johnsen

• President Obama nominated Dawn Johnsen to the position of assistant attorney general for the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), Department of Justice.
  
  
• Johnsen has a distinguished record working to protect legal abortion and ensure women's reproductive rights.  As an advocate at the ACLU and NARAL's former legal director, Johnsen fought to make reproductive health a priority and a reality. She also is an accomplished lawyer, having spent significant time serving in public office, particularly in the OLC. Most recently, she has been a professor at Indiana University School of Law, during which time she has written extensively on civil liberties and the role of the executive branch of government.
  
  
• Based on her extensive public service and her long and illustrious record protecting civil liberties and enforcing the law, Dawn Johnsen is uniquely qualified to lead OLC as assistant attorney general. 

The Opposition

The anti-choice movement is waging a high-profile campaign to block Prof. Johnsen. Here's what the opposition is saying:

• The conservative National Review falsely claimed that her confirmation would turn the Office of Legal Counsel into a "culture-war agitator."
  "Lawyer's Lawyer, Radical's Radical," National Review, March 9, 2009
  
  
• Sixty-three anti-choice members of Congress called on President Obama to withdraw her nomination, and anti-choice Rep. Chris Smith (NJ) went as far as saying Johnsen has a "prejudice against motherhood."
  LifeNews, March 25, 2009

What You Can Do

• Urge your senators to confirm both nominees when they come up for floor votes.
• Spread the word about these nominees to your friends via Facebook , MySpace, or Twitter.

Photo of Prof. Johnsen from Indiana University School of Law.