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Loading ...54 federal bench vacancies await Obama decision
01.16.2009 10:52am EST
(New York City) When Barrack Obama is sworn in on Tuesday one of his first tasks will be filling 54 vacancies in federal courts.
In letters this week to the new President and the leadership of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Lambda legal stressed the need for fair and impartial nominees to the federal bench who will address issues facing the gay community without bias.“In the coming years, a number of key issues that significantly impact the gay community are likely to arise in the federal courts,” said Lambda Legal Executive Director Kevin Cathcart, “The foremost consideration in nominating federal judges should be their commitment to rendering decisions impartially.”
During his two terms, President Bush appointed 326 judges to the federal bench.
“It is no secret that the Bush Administration’s goal was to pack the federal courts at all levels with arch-conservative judges who would be unfriendly to the vigorous protection of civil rights — not only for gay people, but for everyone,” said Cathcart.
The letters are a follow-up to a memo Lambda Legal provided to the Obama Transition Team. It urged President-Elect Obama to nominate federal justices who adhere to precedents established in cases of importance to the gay community- including the right to privacy, protection against laws based on antigay bias, the right to sue in state courts under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and protections against HIV discrimination, among others.
The letters also seek to promote judicial integrity through the nomination of jurists who represent the nation’s diversity including people who identify as LGBT, people of color, women, and those with public defender and public interest legal backgrounds.
RJ–WTF? Can you make your point without being so obtuse?
Fair and impartial…..does that mean LGBT or a conservative justice with no clue as to what has transpired since the revision of the ALIMPC in 1955 based on the fraudulent and fallcious works of Alfred Kinsey and subsequently, Evelyn Hooker? I believe that position can be best stated by the LGBT Republican, Senator Arlen Spector……do you believe in “stare decisis”?
Thank goodness for Lambda Legal. If you guys (and gals) have yet to peruse their website, I highly recommend that you take the time to do. They are an excellent resource on glbt legal cases currently going on in America, as well as past glbt-related cases.
You are correct in this is going to be one of the most far reaching consequences of Obama’s election. As I understand, all it would take for the ultra right branch of the US Supreme Court to gain iron control of the court would be for Bush or his republican successor to gain the ability to replace just 2 justices…and 2 of the more left leaning justices(Stevens and Ginsburg) have both age and health issues. I would imagine we will see the two justices retiring from the bench sometime in the next two years to give Obama the right to pick fair replacements and maintain the balance currently on the court. If they wait any further than befor midterm elections, they risk Obama having a less favorable climate in the senate in which to get his chosen candidates approved. Of course this is just my opinion for what it is worth.
Amen! The Nazification of the Federal bench by Dubyah is one of the most dangerous of his many execrable legacies. Barring extraordinary circumstances, we can’t remove his appointees, but fortunately, they’ll eventually die. Meanwhile, President Obama should set about filling vacancies with competent, unbiased appointees immediately.
This is one of THE most important, far-reaching, and long-lasting consequences of PE Obama’s election: Justices (likely including multiple SUPREME COURT Justices) who RESPECT the Constitution and individual rights over sectarian religious dogma and the dictates of Opus Dei, which now has FIVE (count ‘em!) members on the SUPREME COURT (!).
Bud Burgoon-Clark
San Diego CA USA