While I have and continue to know some very capable and ethical graduates of Regent Law School, many others are in my opinion right wing ideologues, religious fanatics and/or in a few case outright crooks who hide behind a smoke screen of religion to lure prey whom they can fleece of their money. Thus, it is no surprise that as reported by the Washington Post and the Virginian Pilot, the Office of the Inspector General and Office of Professional Responsibility have found that Regent Law grad, Monica Goodling, was at the center of the illegal activities within the selection process of personnel at the Justice Department. Goodling apparently cared nothing about complying with the law and did everything to select conservative political hacks and Christianist nutcases for appointments. *
Sadly, in my opinion, this is all too typical of these "Christians" who are some of the biggest frauds and hypocrites one can ever encounter. Virginia's extreme right wing Attorney General, Bob McDonnell, is a Regent Law grad and he definitely seems incapable of separating far right religious dogma from his civil law duties. That Regent Law School produced Goodling and others of her ilk is to me not the least bit surprising. I believe that sadly Goodling is representative of the typical Regent Law School graduate notwithstanding that some honest and capable attorneys have managed to come out of the school. One can only hope that Goodling and others involved will be prosecuted and convicted for their subversion of the law. Goodling - and McDonnell for that matter - in my view is Exhibit A as to why Christianist should not hold public office since they cannot separate their extreme religious views from the civil laws. Disbarment might be an appropriate punishment as well. Here are some highlights from the Pilot's coverage:
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For nearly two years, a young political aide sought to cultivate a "farm system" for Republicans at the Justice Department, hiring scores of prosecutors and immigration judges who espoused conservative priorities and Christian lifestyle choices. That aide, Monica Goodling, a 1999 graduate of the Regent University School of Law in Virginia Beach, exercised what amounted to veto power over a wide range of critical jobs, asking candidates for their views on abortion and same-sex marriage and maneuvering around senior officials who outranked her, including the department's second-in-command.
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An extensive report by the department's Office of the Inspector General and Office of Professional Responsibility concluded Monday that Goodling and others had broken civil service laws, run afoul of department policy and engaged in "misconduct," a finding that could expose them to further scrutiny and sanctions. The report depicted Goodling as a central figure in politicizing employment decisions at the Justice Department during the Bush administration.
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Thirty-four candidates told investigators that Goodling or one of her deputies raised the topic of abortion in job interviews and 21 said they discussed same-sex marriage, the report said. Another job applicant said he admired Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, only to watch Goodling frown and respond, "But she's pro-choice." She and her aides regularly gave candidates for career civil service jobs a form designed for political appointees that sought information on party affiliation and financial contributions. When job seekers sometimes raised objections, Goodling replied that the form was a mistake, showing that she was "aware that it was improper," the report said.
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Current and former department lawyers said they were appalled by the deep reach of the political hiring, which affected hundreds of rejected job seekers and as many as 40 immigration judges who were recruited under the political criteria. Those judges may remain on the bench because their career civil service jobs carry significant employment protections.
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