Lucas Gets a Lesser Job at Justice Dept. : Failed Nominee’s New Post Doesn’t Need Senate Action

William Lucas, the failed nominee of President Bush to become chief enforcer of the nation’s civil rights laws, today was given another Justice Department job that does not require Senate approval.

Atty. Gen. Dick Thornburgh said Lucas, a Democrat-turned-Republican who was widely criticized for his lack of civil rights experience, will head the Justice Department’s Office of Liaison Services.

Lucas, who starts his new $80,700-a-year job Sept. 5, will serve as Thornburgh’s representative in dealing with law enforcement, civil rights and community groups as well as state and local governments.

Setback for Administration

In a major setback for Bush and Thornburgh, the Senate Judiciary Committee last week rejected the nomination of Lucas, a black attorney who was the unsuccessful Republican candidate for governor of Michigan in 1986.

The 14-member committee split evenly on whether to approve Lucas as assistant attorney general for the civil rights division and also deadlocked by the same 7-7 vote on whether to send his nomination to the full Senate. Under committee rules, motions fail on tie votes.

Democrats said Lucas, who has never tried a case or even appeared in court as a lawyer, was unqualified for the job.

Lucas, 61, was sheriff and chief executive of Wayne County, Mich., which includes Detroit. He also has been a police officer, an FBI agent and a social worker.

“I believe he can make important contributions to this Administration’s efforts in law enforcement, civil rights and the administration of justice in close cooperation with organizations and communities across the nation,” Thornburgh said in a statement.

Skirts Senate

Thornburgh’s chief spokesman, David Runkel, denied that Lucas was given the post because it did not require Senate confirmation.

“This position will best make use of his experience and background,” he told reporters.

Since March, right after his nomination, Lucas has been working on a $284-a-day contract as a Justice Department consultant doing a civil rights study.

Runkel said Bush and Thornburgh had seriously considered appointing Lucas to the civil rights job, despite the committee vote, while Congress was in recess.

But some Administration officials privately expressed concern that such a recess appointment would strain relations between the White House and Congress.

Runkel said he does not expect any new selection for the civil rights job until September at the earliest. The job, one of the most important in the Justice Department, has been vacant since last year.