Top officials at the Department of Justice passed over qualified attorneys and law students for its career honors and summer intern programs because of their affiliations with progressive legal associations.

American Constitution Society (ACS)

The executive director of the American Constitution Society expressed concern over a government report showing that top officials at the Department of Justice passed over qualified attorneys and law students for its career honors and summer intern programs because of their affiliations with progressive legal associations, including the American Constitution Society.

“I’m dismayed at the findings of the Inspector General’s report on hiring practices at the Department of Justice,” said ACS Executive Director Lisa Brown. “It was a grave mistake to turn over to political appointees non-political hiring decisions that historically have been left to career employees. It is entirely appropriate to take ideology and past political affiliations into account when hiring political appointees, but it corrupts the system when it occurs with career positions. The IG’s report speaks for itself regarding the consequences that flowed from this regrettable practice."

Among the findings from the report by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) was that membership in ACS was detrimental to attorneys and law students seeking work in the Justice Department.

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