Former Appeals Court Judge Once Supreme Court Candidate
J. Michael Luttig, a
conservative appeals court judge who was once on the short list of
possible US Supreme Court nominees in the Bush administration, has
resigned from his post to become senior vice president and general
counsel for Boeing. He will replace Douglas Bain in the post, who
announced his resignation from Boeing Wednesday.
"Judge Luttig is one of the most respected judges in the nation
and is widely regarded as one of the most independent judges on the
federal bench," Boeing CEO James McNerney said. "He has long been
considered one of the leading candidates for appointment to the
Supreme Court. Having served in the White House, the Department of
Justice, and on the federal bench, he brings unique experience to
Boeing, including significant experience in the defense and
national security arenas. We are both pleased and proud that he
will be part of the Boeing team."
The Washington Post reports that during his time on the bench,
Luttig, a jurist on the Richmond, VA-based 4th Circuit US Court of
Appeals, wrote an important legal decision in support of President
Bush's powers to detain individuals without normal consideration of
legal protections -- which earned him the favor of the
administration, and possible consideration to fill a seat on the US
Supreme Court.
However, Luttig reportedly fell out of favor with the Justice
Department earlier this year, when he took the administration to
task over what he suggested was their wrongful manipulation of the
legal system to avoid further Supreme Court tests of the
president's wartime powers. The Post reports that follow-up opinion
was known to have been very disturbing to political appointees
within the department.
In his resignation letter to President Bush, Luttig made no
mention of that animosity -- instead thanking the president for the
opportunity to serve, as well as asking the president to pass along
his thanks to his favor, George H.W. Bush, who hired Luttig onto
the Appeals Court in 1991.
Calling Boeing "an
American icon," Luttig said the company is likely the only US
company he would consider leaving the board.
Luttig will succeed Douglas Bain (right), who joined the Boeing
Corporate Law Department in 1982.
Bain served for 14 years as senior counsel and then assistant
general counsel. For three years, he was vice president of legal,
contracts, ethics and government relations for Boeing Commercial
Airplanes before returning to Corporate as general counsel in
November 1999.
"Doug built a team that has helped resolve extremely difficult
issues for the company. Through his strong leadership, the legal
team has fostered a culture of excellence and teamwork that will
serve us well as we move forward," McNerney said.
Judge Luttig was born on June 13, 1954, in Tyler, Texas. He
received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1976 from Washington and Lee
University in Lexington, VA, and a Juris Doctorate degree in 1981
from the University of Virginia School of Law.
FMI: www.boeing.com, Read
Luttig's Resignation Letter To President Bush here (pdf)