Obama asks U.S. attorneys to stay put; MN’s is a post-Paulose temp

Klobuchar, Obama, Magill (photo: WCCO)

CORRECTED President-elect Barack Obama has asked the U.S. attorneys from every state to stay on the job, at least “for the time being.” It’s a two-fer, offering temporary calm to a rattled Justice Department while also pushing 50 decisions off Obama’s currently full plate.

In Minnesota’s case, U.S. attorney Frank J. Magill is a temp whose court-ordered assignment ends in March. will last until the U.S. Senate approves Obama’s appointee. 

Obama’s announcement pushes back expectations about when he’ll So Obama has a deadline of sorts by which to make up his mind — or rather, as is the custom, have his mind made up for him. The senior U.S. senator in each state traditionally recommends new U.S. attorneys for the president to appoint.

By dint of Minnesota’s Senate recount (won by Al Franken, contested by former U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman), U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar is the state’s senior — and only — senator. Klobuchar has held preliminary talks about the appointment process with Attorney General-designate Eric Holder, her spokesman told the Minnesota Independent, but they agreed to hold off on discussing names of potential appointees until after the Senate confirms Holder.

Magill, who started at Minnesota’s U.S. attorney’s office in 1990 and served as its economic crimes chief until June 2007, is on his third consecutive, temporary stint as Minnesota’s U.S. Attorney. He was first elevated from his position as first assistant U.S. attorney a year ago — after Rachel Paulose‘s resignation brought her troubled tenure to an end — with a 210-day Justice Department appointment.

When that appointment expired, explains office spokesman David Anderson, Attorney General Michael Mukasey made Magill interim U.S. attorney for another 120 days. Then, just before Thanksgiving, an order from the U.S. District Court of Minnesota put him in the post for another 120 days.

If Magill’s current term expires before Obama acts, the court could make another 120-day appointment, according to Anderson.

Whatever happens next for Magill, he’s surely earned a place in the hearts of all Minnesotans who toil in the growing sector of temporary and contract work.

Corrections made to this story after the U.S. Attorney’s office clarified information provided earlier.