Cuban-American lawyer gains support in bid for key federal civil rights po

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Thu, Jul. 24, 2003

Cuban-American lawyer gains support in bid for key federal civil rights post
BY FRANK DAVIES
Miami Herald

WASHINGTON - Alex Acosta, a Cuban-American lawyer who grew up in Miami, faced little opposition Wednesday to becoming the assistant attorney general for civil rights as he was questioned by the Senate Judiciary Committee. (snip)

(snip) Sen. Orrin Hatch, the Republican chairman from Utah, said he hoped to schedule a committee vote soon on Acosta and Daniel Bryant, nominated for assistant attorney general for legal policy.

''I'll do everything in my power to get you through as quickly as we can,'' Hatch told the two nominees. (snip)

(snip) He has a reputation as a legal conservative with limited litigation experience. Acosta was an associate at Kirkland and Ellis, where independent prosecutor Kenneth Starr was a partner, and worked on the Florida election recount for the Bush-Cheney ticket in 2000.

Acosta is a member of the Federalist Society, a conservative legal organization. (snip/...)

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/6375206.htm