Federal Judiciary

McCain Wins Florida

By AndrewHyman

Looks like the GOP nomination is now John McCain's to lose. His Florida victory speech is here at Youtube. I transcribed the part about judges:

Government must respect our values because they are the true source of our strength, and enforce the rule of law, which distinguishes successful democracies from failed societies, and is the first defense of freedom. And the judges we appoint to federal benches must understand that that is their only responsibility and leave to elected officials their responsibility to make the laws they enforce.

That sounds about right. McCain also promises that support for McCain-Feingold will not be a litmus test for judges he appoints. Mitt Romney's Florida concession speech is here at Youtube.

Meanwhile, the judicial confirmation process continues to implode. Sen. Mitch McConnell put it this way on January 22: "we can?t confirm judges if they don?t get hearings." The lack of hearings for circuit court nominees is unfair, and McCain as well as Romney could make an issue of it. This obstruction is based 100% on Senator Leahy's gamble that he can keep vacancies open until voters give his party the White House.

President Bill Clinton had fifteen (15) circuit court confirmations during his last two years, when the GOP controlled the Senate. This President Bush has had only six (6) circuit court confirmations so far during his last two years. Ten (10) circuit court nominees are currently being hung out to dry.

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Full post as published by ConfirmThem on January 29, 2008 (boomark / email).