Stephen Higginson (Loyola University New Orleans)

An Assistant U.S. Attorney from the Eastern District of Louisiana is President Barack Obama’s intended nominee for a New Orleans-based appellate court, the White House announced Thursday.

Obama plans to nominate Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Higginson to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Higginson has served more than two decades in the Justice Department.

He has been an Assistant U.S. Attorney in New Orleans since 1993, rising to Chief of Appeals in 1995. He served at the State Department from 1997 to 1998 as deputy director of special projects for the Presidential Rule of Law Initiative, which aimed to improve legal cooperation between China and the United States. In 2004, Higginson became a law professor at Loyola University New Orleans, serving part-time in the U.S. Attorney’s office.

Higginson started at the DOJ in 1989 as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Criminal Division of the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney’s Office.

In 1987, he clerked for Judge Patricia M. Wald of the U.S. Court of Appeals for D.C. From 1988 to 1989, Higginson clerked for Supreme Court Justice Byron White.

He received his law degree from Yale University in 1987, a masters degree from Cambridge University in 1984 and an undergraduate degree from Harvard University in 1983.

The Senate on Wednesday convicted Judge G. Thomas Porteous Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana on various bribery and perjury-related charges.

Porteous, who was found guilty on four counts, is only the eighth federal judge in the Senate’s history to be forced from the bench.

In addition to his convictions, the Senate voted to prohibit him from ever holding any office again.

According to the Judicial Conference of the United States, there was substantial evidence that Porteous “repeatedly committed perjury by signing false financial disclosure forms under oath,” thus concealing “cash and things of value that he solicited and received from lawyers appearing in litigation before him.”

Votes on three other charges against the judge were expected late Wednesday.  Porteous, 63, is reported to have been suffering from a gambling problem.

In an interview with Main Justice Monday, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana Jim Letten said as a native of New Orleans, he is proud of the Justice Department’s commitment to overhauling the city’s troubled police department.

Jim Letten (DOJ)

“I know this community, I’m born and raised here in New Orleans. I’ve been U.S. Attorney here for a number of years, I’m a career prosecutor,” said Letten in an interview following Monday’s news conference, where federal officials announced they would conduct an investigation into the New Orleans Police Department. “On a professional level, and also on a very, very deeply personal level, I am committed to making sure that all of the resources possible are thrown into the process to help make NOPD the best police department in the country.”

Letten said the newly elected leadership in New Orleans was key to allowing the federal probe to more forward.

“I’ve known Mitch Landrieu since we were both very young men, and I have a great deal of respect for him. Literally, on the day after he won the election, my cell phone rang. It was a Sunday morning, and Mitch called me to acknowledge his interest in realizing a partnership with the Department of Justice,” Letten said.

Since that call, Letten said, Landrieu has continued to engage in robust dialogue with other DOJ officials, including Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Thomas Perez and Attorney General Eric Holder.

Letten said he has spoken with Holder about the city’s police department several times, and the Attorney General is “very deeply aware of, committed to, and cognizant of the need for reform in the police department, the need for resources.”

“He is deeply aware of challenges our city and our department is faced,” Letten said. “This process didn’t happen yesterday.”

Letten also said the probe shows that the city is ready for changes.

“I’m extraordinarily excited to be in on the ground here in New Orleans. Our office has been aggressive and I think successful at I think attacking public corruption with a ferocity probably unmatched in recent history in this city, or perhaps in the history of this city at all. We’ve helped to fuel a real appetite for transparent government by the citizens and by the press corps, the press corps here really gets it.”

Perez will meet with community members to discuss their concerns about the police department. A local radio station has made audio of the news conference available on its website.

Jim Letten (DOJ)

New Orleans U.S. Attorney Jim Letten on Friday received an award for his integrity and success in winning convictions, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported.

The award was given by Crimefighters, an organization in Louisiana that provides free medical, psychological and legal assistance to crime victims.

“We’re beginning to turn the corner on corruption,” Letten said Friday after receiving the award. He also thanked “the people you don’t see,” who he said are deserving of the award.

Please send news of moves, promotions and honors to personnelchanges@mainjustice.com.

Jim Letten (DOJ)

Since he took the helm of the New Orleans-based U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2001, Eastern District of Louisiana U.S. Attorney Jim Letten has gained respect for his office’s successful prosecutions of thieves, drug dealers and corrupt politicians. But Letten’s also got one other thing that people love: a “sweet mustache.”

Houma Courier columnist Laura McKnight of Terrebonne Parish, La., revealed her appreciation for Letten’s ’stash in a column Friday. Knight served on a federal jury for several months, and recently she and her fellow jurors had the opportunity to talk to Letten.

Here’s her story:

For the past six months, each time I had spotted Letten in the paper, I instantly fixated on one aspect of his character, one signature facet of his presence.

Now that he stood in front of us, I struggled against the urge to bring this item to his attention. I had actually thought about e-mailing him to mention this topic, but now I had the chance to say it in person.

A war started in my head, between Civilized Normal Human Being and Unashamed Ridiculousness.

“Do NOT say it. Just sit in the back, be quiet and act NORMAL,” Civilized said.

“You HAVE to say it. You will regret it for the rest of your life if you don’t,” Unashamed said.

“You are going to get in trouble. They already warned everyone not to ask him about refills on toilet paper or Splenda, so don’t be a clown,” Civilized said.

“It’s not being a clown if you’re sincere. You will never get this chance again,” Unashamed fired back.

“You’ll turn crawfish red.”

“So? Who cares?”

Eventually, Unashamed won, and I raised my hand, cringing a little at how ridiculous I was about to look.

I was all the way in the back of the room, so I had to say it loud without turning red, and to my relief, I did.

“I like your mustache.”

Moment of silence.

Laughter.

I then felt a neurotic need to explain myself, so people wouldn’t think I was joking.

I said something to the effect of: “I work for a newspaper and I had to do a big story on mustaches, so I really notice and appreciate good mustaches now.”

Letten’s top assistant wondered aloud why I would be investigating mustaches as part of my job, so I explained that my editor had assigned me a story examining trends in upper lip hair with a specific focus on whether the mustache is making a comeback.

Letten then noted that fashion always cycles back around and launched into a history of his mustache, beginning with its debut in 1971. That kicked off a brief discussion on how mustaches can become an integral part of someone’s character.

So several people complimented Letten on his efforts to clean up southeast Louisiana shenanigans.

And I complimented him on his sweet mustache. On the record. With the court reporter taking notes.

It really is a fantastic mustache.

Before he left, Letten mentioned his recent appointment to an advisory team to U.S. Attorney Gen. Eric Holder.

I’m sure this is an exciting achievement, but all I could think was this: Eric Holder has a mustache, too.

The lawyer for one of the men arrested for tampering with a senator’s phones is meeting with prosecutors in an effort to reach a resolution in the 24-year-old man’s case, The Associated Press reported today.

J. Garrison Jordan, the attorney for Robert Flanagan — the son of Western District of Louisiana acting U.S. Attorney William Flanagan – wouldn’t elaborate on the talks he had Wednesday with prosecutors about the charges against his client.

“We’re in discussions with the government, trying to resolve this matter as expeditiously as possible in a fair and just manner,” Jordan told AP.

Robert Flanagan allegedly joined James O’Keefe and two other men in a purported scheme to interfere with phones at Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu’s New Orleans office, according to the AP. O’Keefe was already noteworthy, having gained notoriety for secret videos he shot last year involving the community organizing group ACORN.

A spokeswoman for the Eastern District of Louisiana U.S. Attorney’s Office, which is handling the case, declined to comment.

The four men were charged last month with using false pretenses to enter a federal building with the intent to commit a felony after they allegedly pretended to be telephone company repairmen who were at the Landrieu’s office to fix problems with the phone system.

The four defendants are free on $10,000 bonds. Their lawyers decided to waive a preliminary hearing that was set for this week, according to the AP. A judge hasn’t set a date for their next court appearance, the AP said.

Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) will no longer hold up federal nominations in his state after receiving assurance that the job of the George W. Bush-holdover U.S. Attorney in New Orleans is safe, The Times-Picayune reported today.

David Vitter (Gov)

The Republican senator now will return his “blue slip” on Western District of Louisiana U.S. Attorney nominee Stephanie Finley and other federal nominees, which he had been withholding until he received official word on the status of U.S. Attorney Jim Letten.

The Senate Judiciary Committee traditionally does not consider a nomination until it receives a “blue slip” from the nominee’s home state senator.

Vitter had asked the administration to keep Letten, who has led the Eastern District of Louisiana U.S. Attorney’s Office since 2001. Today, Attorney General Eric Holder announced that Letten would serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee, which serves as the voice of U.S. Attorneys throughout the nation, sending a strong signal that his job was safe.

“This prestigious appointment makes it crystal clear that Jim isn’t going anywhere except on regular trips to Washington to personally advise the attorney general,” Vitter told the newspaper. “The attorney general and I superficially discussed this in our meeting last Thursday and I’m really excited to get it done.”

Letten’s office is handling the case against four men who allegedly tried to interfere with phones at Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu’s New Orleans office. One of the men, Robert Flanagan, is the son of Western District of Louisiana acting U.S. Attorney William Flanagan. James O’Keefe, who gained notoriety for secret videos of the community organizing group ACORN, was one of Flanagan’s accomplices.

Andrew Breitbart, the founder of BigGovernment.com, which employs O’Keefe, said today on Fox News that Letten leaked information on the incident in a “concerted effort” to put O’Keefe in a bad light. Letten’s office denied the allegation.

Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) appears close to lifting his holds on federal nominees for Louisiana posts, after he learned that the Justice Department will soon clear up his concerns about the future of New Orleans U.S. Attorney Jim Letten, The Times-Picayune reported yesterday.

David Vitter (Gov)

The Republican senator and Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) have urged President Barack Obama to retain Letten, who has served as Eastern District of Louisiana U.S. Attorney since 2001. Landrieu said she received assurances from the White House that Letten’s job was safe. But Vitter didn’t and he is holding up DOJ and judicial nominees in Louisiana until he receives official word from the Obama administration that it isn’t seeking a replacement for the Bush holdover.

Jim Letten (DOJ)

Vitter told the New Orleans newspaper he had a half-hour meeting with Attorney General Eric Holder yesterday about Letten that “went very well.” He said once he receives official word on Letten’s status he will return the “blue slips,” which home state senators must sign in order for the Senate Judiciary Committee to consider nominees.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Finley, who was tapped last week for the Western District of Louisiana U.S. Attorney post, is among the Louisiana nominees for judiciary and Justice Department posts. She would replace acting U.S. Attorney William Flanagan, whose son, Robert, allegedly tried to interfere with phones at Landrieu’s New Orleans office. Letten’s office is handling the prosecution of Robert Flanagan and three others.

Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) will delay Senate action on the nominee who would replace the acting U.S. Attorney whose son allegedly tried to interfere with phones at Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu’s New Orleans office, The Associated Press reported today.

David Vitter (Getty Images)

Vitter’s office said Wednesday that he will block Senate action on Stephanie Finley and President Obama’s other nominees for federal justice system posts in Louisiana until he hears from the White House whether Obama will let Eastern District of Louisiana U.S. Attorney Jim Letten keep his job.

Finley was nominated last week to be U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana. She would replace acting U.S. Attorney William Flanagan. Vitter is also holding up other federal nominees in Louisiana over Letten. Letten was appointed by President George W. Bush, and has held the Eastern District post since April 2001. Both Vitter and Landrieu have urged Obama to retain Letten.

Flanagan, a career prosecutor, became the top federal prosecutor in the Shreveport, La., office after Donald Washington resigned earlier this month. Robert Flanagan, the prosecutor’s son, along with conservative activists James O’Keefe, Joseph Basel and Stan Dai were charged this week with entering federal property under false pretenses for the purposes of committing a felony. O’Keefe made national headlines last year when he posed as a pimp and allegedly received instructions on how to obtain housing aid for a purported brothel from staffers for activist group ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now).

The son of the acting U.S. Attorney and Basel told a staffer at Landrieu’s office that they were with the telephone company to repair the phone system, according to an FBI affidavit. O’Keefe was already inside the office’s reception area and was holding a phone to record Flanagan and Basel talking to Landrieu staffers, the FBI said. Dai helped plan the operation, according to the FBI.

Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) will hold up two nominees for the federal bench and U.S. Marshals in Louisiana until the Obama administration assures him the New Orleans U.S. Attorney will remain in place, The Times-Picayune reported yesterday.

David Vitter (Gov)

Although Vitter and Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu (La.) both support retaining Eastern District of Louisiana U.S. Attorney Jim Letten, the White House has declined to state categorically that it won’t seek to replace the Bush-era holdover.

Attorney General John Ashcroft appointed the career prosecutor as the U. S. Attorney in April 2001. President George W. Bush later formally nominated Letten for the job, and the Senate confirmed him in July 2005. Because Letten has already been Senate-confirmed,  he can continue in his job at the pleasure of President Barack Obama.

Landrieu told The Times-Picayune the White House has assured her that Letten will not lose his federal appointment.

But Vitter has not received those assurances, according to the newspaper. The Republican will only return his “blue slips” on Middle District of Louisiana judicial nominee Brian Jackson in Baton Rouge and Eastern District of Louisiana U.S. Marshal nominee Genevieve Lynn Mayand in New Orleans if the White House tells him Letten will not be replaced by an Obama nominee. By tradition, home state senators return “blue slips” on judicial and law enforcement nominees from their states to the Judiciary Committee before the panel considers the nominations.

“As Sen. Vitter expressed in his letter to Sen. Landrieu and the Obama administration last March, he is offering his good will and cooperation for the president’s nominees as long as Jim Letten retains this appointment and continues his vitally important work,” Vitter spokesperson Joel DiGrado told The Times-Picayune. “Since Sen. Landrieu has strongly recommended this also, it should not be a difficult issue.”

Landrieu criticized Vitter’s decision to hold up the two nominees.

“Sen. Vitter’s partisan antics will do nothing but hurt the people of Louisiana who need these positions filled,” the Democratic senator told the newspaper.