"It's clear from how much he has gone back and forth on this he is not comfortable. But it is also clear there is such a strong argument for a federal court order overseeing reform here," said Lopez, now a professor at Georgetown University. "Whether he is doing this wholeheartedly or otherwise, let's give him credit where credit is due. He is doing that. … He wasn't doing the right thing last week and maybe he won't do the right thing next week. But right now, he is doing the right thing."