My dear friends:

Earlier today, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm my nomination as Legal Adviser of the U.S. Department of State. Starting tomorrow, I will assume that position, and begin a public service leave from my Yale professorship. I cannot tell you how much your countless acts of friendship and support have meant to me and my family during this confirmation process. So many of you went far above and beyond the call to stand up for me. We will never forget it. Nor could I feel more lucky or grateful.

One former Legal Adviser once described his job as “speaking law to power.” I pledge to repay your friendship by doing my very best to serve our country in facing its global challenges.

With more thanks than I could ever express,
Harold

“I thought the vote would be a little closer,” said Perkins. “I think that this nomination is a threat to our whole understanding of American law. But this is typical of this administration, and there’s probably more to come. I think their approach to public policy is like a food fight, throwing everything at the wall and seeing what sticks, as people are dodging and ducking.”

After this I heard Frank Gaffney of the Center for Security Policy address the launch meeting of the new Sovereignty Caucus, where he talked about Koh. “Harold Koh is one of the enemies,” he said, “if that’s not too charged a word, one of the enemies of sovereignty.”

A campaign that delayed Koh’s confirmation by several months will almost certainly come to an end shortly.

UPDATE: Koh was confirmed by the full Senate, 62-35.