A different view

Dere Goes da Judge

Interesting retreat in President Bush's alleged ultra-conservative judicial nominees yesterday. Four judges were withdrawn one of which,District Judge Terrence W. Boyle of eastern North Carolina, has been a nominee for Virginia's conservative 4th Circuit Court of Appeals since 1991.

I can understand wanting to push through a more conservative judge in San Francisco's famous 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. But rather than nominate someone that was simply conservative he nominated William G. Myers III, a former lobbyist for grazing and mining interests that was decidedly anti-environmentalist. Bush's pro-oil and drilling activities has so isolated him that even the NRA is being forced to take a stance against the administration.

The Virginia based 4th circuit is relied on by the DOJ to limit civil rights in terrorist prosecutions. But his nominee Judge Terrence W. Boyle isn't known to be especially conservative when it comes to civil rights and rules of evidence. Mostly he's known for getting caught up in a feud between Jesse Helms and Democrats, with then Senator John Edwards last taking a position against him for his civil rights record.

With the last renomination of these candidates just a few days after the 2006 November elections when the Democrats won the House, these nominations seem to be more of a poke in the eye to Democrats than any real strategic positioning.

If Bush couldn't get them through even with a Republican majority and post 9/11 inertia I have to wonder if he didn't look for the most contentious nominees he could find.

Like so many of the efforts of the Bush administration, the move seems more to cause polarity than to serve any real function.

posted by don1one @ 6:37 AM