Former Appeals Court Judge Once Supreme Court Candidate

J. Michael Luttig, a conservative appeals court judge who was once on the short list of possible US Supreme Court nominees in the Bush administration, has resigned from his post to become senior vice president and general counsel for Boeing. He will replace Douglas Bain in the post, who announced his resignation from Boeing Wednesday.

"Judge Luttig is one of the most respected judges in the nation and is widely regarded as one of the most independent judges on the federal bench," Boeing CEO James McNerney said. "He has long been considered one of the leading candidates for appointment to the Supreme Court. Having served in the White House, the Department of Justice, and on the federal bench, he brings unique experience to Boeing, including significant experience in the defense and national security arenas. We are both pleased and proud that he will be part of the Boeing team."

The Washington Post reports that during his time on the bench, Luttig, a jurist on the Richmond, VA-based 4th Circuit US Court of Appeals, wrote an important legal decision in support of President Bush's powers to detain individuals without normal consideration of legal protections -- which earned him the favor of the administration, and possible consideration to fill a seat on the US Supreme Court.

However, Luttig reportedly fell out of favor with the Justice Department earlier this year, when he took the administration to task over what he suggested was their wrongful manipulation of the legal system to avoid further Supreme Court tests of the president's wartime powers. The Post reports that follow-up opinion was known to have been very disturbing to political appointees within the department.

In his resignation letter to President Bush, Luttig made no mention of that animosity -- instead thanking the president for the opportunity to serve, as well as asking the president to pass along his thanks to his favor, George H.W. Bush, who hired Luttig onto the Appeals Court in 1991.

Calling Boeing "an American icon," Luttig said the company is likely the only US company he would consider leaving the board.

Luttig will succeed Douglas Bain (right), who joined the Boeing Corporate Law Department in 1982.

Bain served for 14 years as senior counsel and then assistant general counsel. For three years, he was vice president of legal, contracts, ethics and government relations for Boeing Commercial Airplanes before returning to Corporate as general counsel in November 1999.

"Doug built a team that has helped resolve extremely difficult issues for the company. Through his strong leadership, the legal team has fostered a culture of excellence and teamwork that will serve us well as we move forward," McNerney said.

Judge Luttig was born on June 13, 1954, in Tyler, Texas. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1976 from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA, and a Juris Doctorate degree in 1981 from the University of Virginia School of Law.

FMI: www.boeing.com, Read Luttig's Resignation Letter To President Bush here (pdf)