Ashcroft Applauds Kollar-Kotelly's Affirmation

Ruling for the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia, Kollar-Kotelly released her opinion just hours ago that she was "satisfied that the parties have reached a settlement which comports with the public interest."

In his remarks, Ashcroft underscored the judge's description of the year-ago settlement being resolved in a "clear, consistent and coherent manner.

"Judge Kollar-Kotelly confirmed that the settlement resolved the states' claims in a manner that benefits consumers, competition and justice," Ashcroft said.

He then publicly thanked the outgoing assistant attorney general for antitrust, Charles James, who appeared at Ashcroft's side at the Justice Department press briefing.

James is slated to leave the Justice Department at the end of the month to be vice president and general counsel with Chevron Texaco.

"We're quite pleased" with Kollar-Kotelly's affirmation, James said. "It confirms our view that settlement was appropriate and in the public interest.

It now falls on [the Justice Department to ensure that Microsoft fulfills both the letter and the spirit of the consent decree," James said.

The judge approved the consent decree largely as written, imposing an additional requirement that would force Microsoft to disclose technical information to competitors months earlier than agreed upon.