Judiciary

Nearly $48 Million In Funds Part Of Federal Economic Recovery Effort

March 04, 2009 -- TRENTON - New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine announced today that nearly $48 million in justice assistance grants have been allocated to New Jersey for use in law enforcement, prosecution, court programs, and other related efforts as part of the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

"The global economic recession has hit every level of government and, clearly, every dollar counts," said Governor Corzine. "These funds will go a long way toward keeping police officers on the streets, keeping our communities safe, and curtailing potential property tax increases that otherwise may have been needed to continue critical services."    » read more »

February 23, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. District Judge Samuel B. Kent pleaded guilty today to obstruction of justice in federal court in Houston, Acting Assistant Attorney General Rita M. Glavin and Andrew R. Bland III, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Houston office announced.

Kent, 59, a district judge in the Southern District of Texas, pleaded guilty to making false statements to a special investigative committee of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit during an investigation of a judicial misconduct complaint filed against him. Kent’s guilty plea was accepted by the Hon. Roger Vinson, Senior U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Florida, who was sitting by designation in the Southern District of Texas.    » read more »

January 26, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - Alabama Governor Bob Riley has appointed Decatur attorney Mark B. Craig to the position of Circuit Judge of the Thirty-Sixth Judicial Circuit. Craig is replacing Judge Philip Reich, who is retiring January 31, 2009.

“Mark Craig has the right experience and background that will make him an outstanding judge for the Thirty-Sixth Judicial Circuit,” said Governor Riley. “I am pleased to appoint him to this very important position.”

Craig graduated from Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1985 and began practicing law in Lawrence County and the surrounding areas. He also served as an Adjunct Instructor at John C. Calhoun Community College from 1992 until 2001.    » read more »

August 06, 2008 -- Chicago, IL -- Below is a statement from Senator Obama on Today's Military Commission Verdict in the Hamdan Case:

"I commend the military officers who presided over this trial and served on the hearing panel under difficult and unprecedented circumstances. They and all our Armed Forces continue to serve this country with valor in the fight against terrorism.    » read more »

NEW YORK, Aug. 12, 2008 –The American Bar Association’s House of Delegates approved recommendations relating to expanding military members’ access to the courts, encouraging bipartisan commissions to evaluate prospective judicial candidates and urging the U.S. government to expand its interaction with the International Criminal Court. The House, the ABA’s policy-making body, met during the final two days of the Association’s Annual Meeting in New York City.    » read more »

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 »