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Bush to name new civil rights chief

From CNN's Terry Frieden at the Justice Department

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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- CNN has learned that President Bush will nominate Ralph Boyd, an African-American lawyer from Boston, as the administration's assistant attorney general for civil rights.

Several sources close to the administration, and familiar with the selection process, told CNN they expect Boyd's selection as the government's top civil rights official to be announced as early as Tuesday.

Reached by CNN at his Boston law office, Boyd did not dispute word of his selection, but said he was not yet in a position to confirm it.

"I just can't comment, but I appreciate your good wishes," Boyd said.

"I'm not Washington savvy, but I do have some friends that are," Boyd joked. He indicated he was aware of some of the past battles over the position to which he has been appointed.

Nominations to the high-profile job have produced bitter confirmation fights in recent years. President Clinton's selection of Lani Guinier, an outspoken supporter of affirmative action, produced a bitter battle and eventual defeat.

Outgoing assistant attorney general for civil rights, Bill Lann Lee, was appointed by Clinton and managed to serve in the post for more than two years despite refusal by the Republican-led Senate to confirm him.

Sen. John Kerry, D-Massachusetts, who is familiar with Boyd's record, expressed caution when informed of the choice. Kerry told CNN he wants to consider the nomination "judiciously." He said Boyd's record "needs to be examined thoughtfully and fairly."

A Democratic official who asked not to be named said they "are already digging" for comments Boyd may have made on affirmative action. The official said Boyd's views on the federal government's lawsuit against gun manufacturers appeared to be "ambiguous."

The Justice Department declined comment on Boyd's selection. The chief of the civil rights division reports directly to the attorney general.

The choice of Boyd, a former federal prosecutor now in private practice in Boston, drew prompt applause from conservative supporters.

"Boyd is a former prosecutor with a very distinguished record in law enforcement and is an outstanding nominee," said Clint Bolick, a leading conservative voice on judicial selections.

An attorney who knows Boyd very well also praised the selection. "He is not part of the traditional civil rights establishment. This is really an 'outside the box' choice," said the attorney, who asked not to be identified.

A third legal source, who had backed another candidate for the post, confirmed Boyd was the administration's choice for the job.

Other candidates who were under serious consideration are John Yoo, an Asian-American law professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and Cleveland labor lawyer Peter Kirsanow.

Kirsanow, who is black, withdrew from consideration for personal and family reasons, according to sources familiar with the process. Yoo has expressed interest in other administration positions, the sources said.

During six years as a prosecutor in the U.S. attorney's office in Boston, Boyd administered Operation Triggerlock, a national firearms prosecution initiative.

He was also a member of the Justice Department's Urban Anti-Violent Crime Initiative Team, the mayor's Anti-Crime Council, and the Cease Fire Group, an anti-violence campaign involving government agencies and the Boston public schools.

Although Boyd has not been at the forefront of the civil rights establishment, supporters point to his work on behalf of minorities in fair housing cases.

Boyd has ties to former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld, a moderate Republican. Weld appointed Boyd in 1996 to his Judicial Nominating Council. Weld himself was a former assistant attorney general overseeing the criminal division.

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