That's Why They Call It the "Special" Litigation Section
Shanetta Y. Cutlar, Chief of the Special Litigation Section of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, is a world-class diva. We have described Shanetta's shenangians here and here.
We worship imperious women like Shanetta Cutlar. But some of you are less warmly disposed towards her. Since we've started posting about her, we've received some interesting emails and comments from readers -- including current and former colleagues of Cutlar. See, e.g., these comments.
The list of people who have had some workplace exposure to Shanetta Cutlar grows longer and longer by the week. This is because the lawyers who work under her keep on leaving. The Special Litigation Section has more turnovers than a pastry shop.
Here are some things we've heard from tipsters (unconfirmed; if you see errors or have additions, please email us):
1. Morale is perilously low within the Special Litigation Section, and many attorneys desperately want out.2. Last month, four attorneys left the Section -- including one who was there for less than three months. Two of the others had been there for a little over a year.
3. "Another attorney currently in SPL told the DOJ that she will leave [the Department] if she is not transferred out. She has been there for less than six months."
Goodness gracious. We agree with commenter Who Are These Babies: All of you Shanetta-haters need to just "[s]uck it up." If you ever leave the DOJ for a law firm, you will have to put up with Biglaw partners who are ten times worse than Shanetta.
SPL minions, heed the words of Nietzsche: "That which does not kill us makes us stronger." The next time you pass her in the hallway, say a warm "hello" to Shanetta Cutlar -- and thank her for toughening you up.
Earlier: Prior coverage of the Special Litigation Section under Shanetta Cutlar (scroll down)
Comments
Why is this bitch allowed to inflict the tremendous cost of staff turnover on the American taxpayer? I think the cost of replacing attorney after attorney should come out of this lunatic's salary.
And I assume you are being sarcastic, David. You really expect the creme de la creme of lawyers-- DOJ staff -- to put up with verbal abuse when they could be treated with kid gloves in the private sector? They aren't
Posted by: Anonymous | January 12, 2007 12:58 PM
I, too, hope the endorsement of the WATB's view is sarcasm. It's an absurd argument, which boils down to: If egregiousness is the norm, objecting to it is whinging. It's hard to imagine a better formula for a society's race to the bottom.
The viciousness of WATB's response suggests a) someone who is intensely bitter about having swallowed shit from THEIR boss; b) someone who will, given the opportunity, make his or her subordinates swallow shit in turn. Quite a resume, that.
As for "Biglaw partners who are ten times worse," as a Biglaw attorney I can attest that many offices have perfectly congenial atmospheres. Most of these aren't offices with the sort of bonuses boasted of on this site, but not all of us choose to exchange dignity for money. As for those who do, well, it's no vice, but neither is it a virtue.
Posted by: Anonymous 528 | January 12, 2007 02:24 PM
Well maybe Shanetta Cutlar is the one who should go out into the "World" of big law firms and see if she can make it. A dog's bark tends to be louder when they are at home. Let's take her out of the only job as a lawyer that she's ever had and place her in an atmosphere that she's not comfortable with. SHE WILL NOT LAST!!
Posted by: Anonymous | January 13, 2007 05:15 PM