Judiciary

May 6, 2008 -- After weeks of pretending to be "a different kind of Republican," John McCain showed his true colors today in his speech about the kind of judges he would appoint as president. While he makes a show of trying to recast himself as a "moderate" for the general election, in reality John McCain is promising four more years of right wing judges bent on pushing a radical agenda from the bench.

In fact, in his 22 years as a Republican Senator, John McCain has never voted against a single judicial nomination by a Republican President. No matter how far outside the mainstream they have been, John McCain has been a loyal rubberstamp for their radical right wing agenda.    » read more »

May 6, 2008 -- “Senator McCain today chose to pander to those on the far right who prefer partisan fights designed to energize a political base during an election year. He ignored his own history in supporting filibusters against circuit court nominees, as well as his record of flip flops depending on which party holds the presidency.

Shredding truck parked by the US Supreme Court: Photo by Clarissa (CC)    » read more »

5/6/2008 -- Clinton Campaign Policy Director, Neera Tanden, made the following statement today:

"We won't take lectures on the right way to approach the Constitution from Senator McCain, who voted for extreme conservative judges like Justice Thomas.

In an effort to pander to conservative voters, Senator McCain has signaled his intention to appoint right-wing judges who are committed to rolling back women’s rights and civil rights, elevating the interests of big business over the rights of workers and consumers, affirming executive branch power grabs, and undermining our common core freedoms.    » read more »

May 6, 2008 -- Today, In North Carolina, John McCain Outlined His Judicial Philosophy And Vision. The proper role of the judiciary has become one of the defining issues of this presidential election. It will fall to the next president to nominate hundreds of qualified men and women to the federal courts, and the impact of these choices will reach far into the future.

John McCain: Photo by VictoryNH (CC)

As President, John McCain will look for accomplished men and women with a proven record of excellence in the law and a proven commitment to judicial restraint to serve on the federal bench.

John McCain's Judicial Philosophy:    » read more »

Hamilton County Court Says Law Is Constitutional

March 10, 2008 -- COLUMBUS - For the first time, an Ohio common pleas court has ruled that a state law which bans smoking in public places and in most places of employment is constitutional.

The ruling from the Hamilton County Common Pleas Court was filed Friday. The case is the only constitutional challenge to the Ohio Smoke Free Act that has resulted in a court decision.    » read more »

March 4, 2008 -- Tim Madison, the former District Attorney of the Piedmont Judicial Circuit, pled guilty today in Banks County Superior Court. Madison had served as District Attorney for twenty-four years until he became the focus of a state investigation by Attorney General Thurbert Baker and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation into payroll schemes by a former Assistant District Attorney as well as Madison’s current wife, who served as a victim/witness coordinator in Jackson and Banks counties.    » read more »

Ruling a Victory for Internet Free Speech

Feb. 29, 2008 -- Statement of Paul Alan Levy, Attorney, Public Citizen

Today, a U.S. District judge in California struck a victory for free speech when he unmuzzled Wikileaks.org, the Website that provides a forum for investigating government and corporate corruption around the world. After listening to arguments from Public Citizen, the California First Amendment Coalition and other public interest groups, the judge dissolved a temporary injunction against the site and denied a request for a permanent injunction.    » read more »

December 19, 2007 -- (Washington, DC) - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 660, the Court Security Improvement Act of 2007. House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) introduced the bill earlier this year and considers it one of his most important legislative achievements. H.R. 660 passed the House by voice vote and it is now headed to the President's desk for signature. Conyers made the following remarks today on the House floor:    » read more »

Keith Rogers Appointed to the Washington County Circuit Court

December 19, 2007 -- Salem – Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski today announced his appointment of Keith Rogers to the Washington County Circuit Court. Judge Rogers will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Tim Alexander, effective December 31, 2007.    » read more »

December 19, 2007 -- ATLANTA – Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue announced today the appointment of Brian M. Rickman as the district attorney for the Mountain Judicial Circuit, comprised of Habersham, Rabun and Stephens Counties. The vacancy for this position was created by the resignation of Michael H. Crawford.

A brief biography is provided below:    » read more »

New judge to be assigned to California seat

December 18, 2007 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) today announced that the U.S. Senate has approved legislation to add a new judgeship to the Ninth Circuit, which is experiencing a judicial emergency so severe that judges have the highest caseload in the nation.    » read more »

WASHINGTON -- Dec. 4, 2007 – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Tuesday exposed the White House for stalling key nominations for vacancies in the Department of Justice. The Administration Nov. 15 announced it intended to send nominations to Capitol Hill for the Deputy Attorney General, the Associate Attorney General, and the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division. Almost three weeks later, the Senate has not received the nominations.

Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy,

Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee    » read more »

November 1, 2007 -- (MONTGOMERY) — Alabama Attorney General Troy King today filed a motion asking the Court of Criminal Appeals to order Hale County Circuit Court Marvin Wiggins to recuse himself from a case involving an investigation of voter fraud in Hale County. In his motion, Attorney General King states that Wiggins "who has a history of obstructing voter fraud investigations*, has revealed his personal bias against the State and its investigation and/or his commitment to impede this investigation and thereby protect members of his family."    » read more »

October 29, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy released the following statement on the confirmation of Judge Leslie Southwick to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

“Southwick's appalling record on civil rights and the rights of employees who challenge corporate abuses does not qualify him for a lifetime appointment to the court of appeals. His confirmation is a setback for our nation and especially for the Fifth Circuit, the court once famed for the courage of its judges in standing up for civil rights.”

Source: Senator Ted Kennedy

October 24, 2007 -- "Mr. President, I will oppose the nomination of Leslie Southwick to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals because I have serious questions about his ability to be an impartial jurist.

I am concerned that Judge Southwick’s views of racial discrimination in jury selection reflect a lack of adequate respect for Supreme Court precedent. In Batson v. Kentucky, the Supreme Court ruled against preemptory dismissal of jurors without stating a valid cause for doing so may not be used to exclude jurors based solely on their race.    » read more »