Judge temporarily bars Navy use of sonar that may harm whales

AP ^ | 7/3/3 | ERIC BERKOWITZ

[SmithL]

Los Angeles -- A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order Monday barring the Navy from using a particular kind of sonar allegedly harmful to marine mammals during a Pacific warfare exercise scheduled to begin this week.

The order comes three days after the Navy obtained a six-month national defense exemption from the Defense Department allowing it to use "mid-frequency active sonar."

Environmental groups had sued to stop the Navy's use of the sonar in the Rim of the Pacific 2006 exercise off Hawaii. The use of sonar in the war games was set to start Thursday.

U.S. District Judge Florence-Marie Cooper wrote in her order that the plaintiffs "have shown a possibility that RIMPAC 2006 will kill, injure, and disturb many marine species, including marine mammals, in waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands."

[Pukin Dog]

This will be overturned before the week is over.

[MinstrelBoy]

And this was done using what executive power delegated to the judiciary?

[SmithL]

Cooper, Florence-Marie

Born 1940 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Federal Judicial Service:
U. S. District Court, Central District of California
Nominated by William J. Clinton on July 14, 1999, to a seat vacated by Linda H. McLaughlin; Confirmed by the Senate on November 10, 1999, and received commission on November 15, 1999.

Education:
City College of San Francisco, 1971

Whittier College School fo Law, J.D., 1975

Professional Career:
Law clerk, Hon. Arthur Alarcon, appellate department, Los Angeles Superior Court, 1975-1977
Deputy city attorney, Los Angeles, CA, 1977
Senior research attorney, Hon. Arthur Alarcon, Second Appellate District, California Court of Appeal, 1978-1980
Senior research attorney, Hon. Woods, Second Appellate District, California Court of Appeal, 1980-1983
Adjunct professor, San Fernando Valley College School of Law, 1980-1985
Court commissioner, Los Angeles Superior Court, CA, 1983-1990
Judge, Los Angeles Municipal Court, CA, 1990-1991
Judge, Los Angeles Superior Court, CA, 1991-1999

Race or Ethnicity: White

Gender: Female

[Redcloak]

Another Clinton appointee.

[Winston Smith]

Excuse me but where is it written that she has the power to do this?

Why do we let these activist judges push us around so?

GrrGrrrGrr

[Trteamer]

So who is going to know if they do use it? Flipper?

[spintreebob]

Did the judge also bar North Korea, terrorists and others from aggressive action that requires this defensive action?

Did the judge also bar Bab's music from being played at sea so as not to disturb those in the area?

[RolandBurnam]

what a joke our precious republic has become.

[bcsco]

"Excuse me but where is it written that she has the power to do this?"

As long as their exercises are in International Waters, this judge can go pound sand (if she could figure out how to use a mallet).

[jazusamo]

I hope you're correct, it is appalling that enviros and activist judges can dictate to our military.

[bcsco]

You forgot 'Sexual Preference:"'.

[headstamp]

Haven't you heard? It's the new paradigm.

War and National Defense by Judicial Fiat.


The Judiciary is completely out of control and accountable to no one.

BTW, I had thought I read there was no correlation to sonar and the whales.

[LSUfan]

Can you imagine something like this happening in WWII?

"A federal judge has barred the Navy from using depth charges against U-Boats in the Atlantic after two Pilot whales were found beached in Bermuda."

[Bigh4u2]

So, what army is she going to use to enforce it?

[ozoneliar]

A TRO, can be issued for just about anything. Its just that: Temporary

[yankeedame]

Why, oh, why, did I know -- w/o even looking -- that this ruling was made by a female judge?

(That's okay. I'm a femme. I can say stuff like that.)

[Always Right]

A federal judge has ruled the use of the a-bomb unconstitutional to the rights of the people of Hiroshima.

[Diogenesis]

Beluga: "Dumb Clinoid. We like the sounds AND we like America."

[grapeape]

They know that it harms the animals because they have been talking to them. The moonbeams get high, go swimming and talk with the sweet dolphins and whales.

I am sure the DUcks see this as a big victory.