FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AG

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2001

(202) 616-2777

WWW.USDOJ.GOV

TDD (202) 514-1888

Statement by Assistant Attorney General Viet Dinh

I am disappointed by the American Bar Association's rating of Professor Paul G. Cassell. The rating is on its face inexplicable in that a substantial majority of the Committee found him "well qualified" yet a minority somehow found him "not qualified." The ABA has an obligation to be forthright and explain this decision. The inexplicable inconsistency of Cassell's evaluation by the members of the ABA committee suggests that something is awry with the committee's ratings process.>

Professor Cassell, a most qualified nominee, is a respected law professor, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney, and a former clerk for the U.S. Supreme Court. I am hard pressed to name a person better qualified to serve Utah as a district court judge.

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