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News Release

Last modified: Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Johnsen named to Obama transition team

Indiana University School of Law--Bloomington professor Dawn Johnsen has been selected to be part of President-elect Barack Obama's transition team.

Johnsen will serve as part of the Department of Justice Review Team, the Obama campaign announced Monday, November 17.

She served in the Department of Justice under President Bill Clinton as the Acting Assistant Attorney General heading the Office of Legal Counsel from 1997-1998, and as Deputy Assistant Attorney General from 1993-1996. From 1988-1993, Johnsen was the Legal Director for the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (now NARAL Pro-Choice America).

Johnsen also served on the Clinton transition team in 1992.

The team is designed to "assure continuity in the faithful execution of the laws and in the conduct of the affairs of the Federal Government," according to the Presidential Transaction Act of 1963.

Due to transition team policy to centralize communications, Johnsen will not available to comment publicly on her current role, though she will continue her full teaching duties at Indiana Law during the transition.

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