The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday voted 12-7 along party lines to approve the nomination of Dawn Johnsen to be assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel, CQ Today reports. The committee had already approved Johnsen nearly one year ago, but her nomination was never brought to the full Senate. President Obama re-nominated Johnsen in January after the first nomination expired at the end of 2009.

Republicans on the Judiciary Committee have criticized Johnsen over her positions on national security issues and her past work with NARAL Pro-Choice America. They claim she is "too partisan" for the position, according to CQ Today.

Committee Chair Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) took issue with GOP criticism of Johnsen, whom he said would "thoughtfully analyze -- not simply rubber stamp -- the legality of administration policies" (Anderson, CQ Today, 3/4).

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