Jesse Furman, a federal prosecutor who has been nominated for a slot on the Southern District bench, was prodded yesterday about opinion pieces he wrote while in college at Harvard, including one pro-gun-control piece headlined, “Bang, Bang, You’re Dead! The NRA Supplied the Lead!” Mr. Furman, the deputy chief appellate attorney in the Southern District U.S. Attorney’s Office, disavowed the writings during his Senate confirmation hearings. “I wrote those words as an 18-year-old with no legal experience or training and, frankly, spoke with more confidence than was warranted,” he said.
Senator Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., who asked about the writings, indicated he did not think they would be a barrier to confirmation. He said he had spoken to a Republican-appointed judge whom Mr. Furman has appeared before regularly and was reassured that Mr. Furman would follow precedent if confirmed. Mr. Kyl did not name the judge. Among those who have written letters in support of Mr. Furman is former U.S. attorney general Michael Mukasey, now a partner at Debevoise & Plimpton.
