Federal Judiciary

6th Circuit Deal

By Curt Levey

The White House just announced that Helene White—a Democrat and ex-cousin-in-law of Sen. Carl Levin—will be substituted for Steve Murphy as a 6th Cir. nominee, with Murphy now being nominated to the Eastern District of Michigan. Ray Kethledge remains as the second 6th Cir. nominee from Michigan.

This is an okay deal given that 1) the best we can hope for from the election is a Republican president with an increased Democratic majority in the Senate, and 2) now even a Democratic president won't be able to wipe out the Republican majority on the 6th Circuit anytime soon.

However, it is important that Senate Democrats not be allowed to claim that a hearing or vote on Helene White represents progress on judges—that is, use her as an excuse not to move some other circuit nominee. Her nomination and inevitable confirmation is a gift from the President to the Democrats, not the other way around.

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Full post as published by ConfirmThem on April 15, 2008 (boomark / email).