Alberto Gonzales, a Hispanic lawyer who has been serving as White House counsel to President Bush, was nominated on Wednesday as Attorney General.

Gonzales, 49, is considered a close friend of the president. He a former judge from Texas who served as an aide to then-governor Bush at a time when the state was trying to shut down the Tigua Tribe's casino.

Gonzales is seen as a less polarizing figure than John Ashcroft, who is retiring as head of the Department of Justice. The two clashed on affirmative action, which Gonzales appears to support as a concept, and abortion rights. As a judge, Gonzales affirmed a teenager's right to seek an abortion without parental notification.

If confirmed, Gonzales would be the first Hispanic to serve as attorney general.

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Bush Picks A Loyalist To Replace A Politician (The Washington Post 11/11)
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Gonzales Named to Succeed Ashcroft as Attorney General (The Washington Post 11/11)
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Bush Nominates His Top Counsel for Justice Post (The New York Times 11/11)
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Riding an Ideological Divide (The New York Times 11/11)
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Excerpts From Gonzales's Legal Writings (The New York Times 11/11)
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White House Announcement:
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