"Pledge" Judge is a Nixon Appointee

Federal Judicial Center Homepage on the Internet ^

[Vladiator]

Just FYI:

The opinion declaring the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional was written by an almost 80-year old, white male Army Veteran Nixon appointee, Alfred T. Goodwin.

Goodwin, Alfred Theodore Born 1923 in Bellingham, WA

Federal Judicial Service: U. S. District Court, District of Oregon Nominated by Richard M. Nixon on September 22, 1969, to a seat vacated by John Francis Kilkenny; Confirmed by the Senate on December 10, 1969, and received commission on December 11, 1969. Service terminated on December 17, 1971, due to appointment to another judicial position.

U. S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Nominated by Richard M. Nixon on November 3, 1971, to a seat vacated by John F. Kilkenny; Confirmed by the Senate on November 23, 1971, and received commission on November 30, 1971. Served as chief judge, 1988-1991. Assumed senior status on January 31, 1991.

Education: University of Oregon, B.A., 1947

University of Oregon Law School, J.D., 1951

Professional Career: U.S. Army Captain, 1943-1946 U.S. Army Reserve Lieutenant Colonel, JAG Corps, 1960-1969 Private practice, Eugene, Oregon, 1951-1955 Judge, Circuit Court of the State of Oregon, 1955-1960 Judge, Supreme Court of the State of Oregon, 1960-1969

Race or Ethnicity: White

Gender: Male

You can search here: http://air.fjc.gov/history/judges_frm.html

[45Auto]

14 out the 24 active judges on the 9th Circuit are Clinton appointees; this court is more or less "Commie Central" among the Federal Appeals Courts.

ACTIVE JUDGES OF THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

Schroeder, Mary M., Chief Judge Phoenix 12/04/40 09/25/79 Carter

Pregerson, Harry Los Angeles 10/13/23 10/31/79 Carter

Reinhardt, Stephen Los Angeles 03/27/31 09/11/80 Carter

Kozinski, Alex Pasadena 07/23/50 11/07/85 Reagan

O'Scannlain, Diarmuid F. Portland 03/28/37 09/26/86 Reagan

Trott, Stephen Boise 12/12/39 03/25/88 Reagan

Fernandez, Ferdinand F. Pasadena 05/29/37 05/22/89 Bush

Rymer, Pamela Ann Pasadena 01/16/41 05/22/89 Bush

Nelson, Thomas G. Boise 11/14/36 10/17/90 Bush

Kleinfeld, Andrew J. Fairbanks 06/12/45 09/16/91 Bush

Hawkins, Michael Daly Phoenix 02/12/45 09/15/94 Clinton

Tashima, A. Wallace Pasadena 06/24/34 01/04/96 Clinton

Thomas, Sidney R. Billings 08/14/53 01/04/96 Clinton

Silverman, Barry G. Phoenix 10/11/51 02/04/98 Clinton

Graber, Susan P. Portland 07/05/49 03/19/98 Clinton

McKeown, M. Margaret Seattle 05/11/51 04/08/98 Clinton

Wardlaw, Kim McLane Pasadena 07/02/54 07/31/98 Clinton

Fletcher, William A. San Francisco 06/06/45 10/09/98 Clinton

Fisher, Raymond C. Pasadena 7/12/39 10/12/99 Clinton

Gould, Ronald M. Seattle 10/17/46 11/17/99 Clinton

Paez, Richard A. Pasadena 05/05/47 3/9/00 Clinton

Berzon, Marsha S. San Francisco 4/17/45 3/9/00 Clinton

Tallman, Richard C. Seattle 03/03/53 5/25/00 Clinton

Rawlinson, Johnnie Las Vegas 12/16/52 7/26/00 Clinton

[paltz]

I'll get flamed for saying this...I really don't care, but Nixon really wasn't that conservative. In fact, his opening of China angered many Reps. He was rather on the liberal end of the Republican Party. Had Watergate not occurred his presidency would've been as forgettable as Carter's.

[mass55th]

He may be a Nixon appointee, but he's apparently suffering from senility in his old age and should be put out to pasture.

[deport]

The three Judges involved in the ruling....

• Alfred T. Goodwin, Nixon, 1971
  
• Stephen Reinhardt, Carter, 1980
  
• Ferdinand F. Fernandez, Bush, 1989

The Senate make up at the time of the Nixon appointment was as follows........

• Democrats --- 54
  
• Republicans -- 44
  
• Independents -- 1
  
• Conservative -- 1

[The_Media_never_lie]

How can this be? After 200 over years we are finally finding out that the Pledge is unconstitutional? Maybe we have been lacking for enlightened judges.

[DoughtyOne]

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join the contest to win your registration fees to the FRiva Las Vegas Conference
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[Non-Sequitur]

Nominated by Richard M. Nixon on November 3, 1971, to a seat vacated by John F. Kilkenny; Confirmed by the Senate on November 23, 1971, and received commission on November 30, 1971.

Four weeks from nomination to confirmation. When was the last time that happened? Certainly not under the last four presidents.

[45Auto]

Court of Appeals with Four Vacancies District Courts with Fourteen Vacancies

As of March 1, 2002, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit had four vacancies on the 28-judge court. For most of the past five years the court has had between five and ten vacancies that need to be filled by presidential nomination and Senate confirmation. The President has nominated individuals for two of the four positions.

As of March 1, 2002, there were 14 unfilled vacancies on the district court bench. The vacancies exist in the following districts: Alaska (one), Arizona (one), the Central District of California (six), the Eastern District of California (one), the Northern District of California (one), Hawaii (one), Nevada (one), Oregon (one), and the Western District of Washington (one).

So, the Senate should get off its collective commie ass and vote to confirm some of Pres. Bush's nominees.

[Miss Marple]

Also, Judge Fernandez dissented from the other two. He said that it was NOT unconstitutional.

[Batrachian]

Henry Blackmun was a Nixon appointee also.

[Virginia-American]

but Nixon really wasn't that conservative

Can you say OSHA and EPA? A total liberal, IMO, but the libs couldn't forgive him for being right about Alger Hiss and Communism.

[deport]

After 200 over years we are finally finding out that the Pledge is unconstitutional?

Really?.. You are getting something out of the ruling no one else is getting.

[WakeUpChristian]

Call Federal Judge Alfred Goodwin and demand
that he immediately resign... (415) 556-9800

[VOA]

After 200 over years we are finally finding out that the Pledge is unconstitutional?

I'm not a lawyer, but I think the real bone of contention is the "under G-d"
which was added to The Pledge during the Cold War (during Eisenhower's Administration).

[blau993]

Actually, the Pledge only dates back to the mid to late 19th century, and the "under God" language was added in the 1950s.

[Timesink]

First, Nixon was a very liberal president in many areas.

Second, federal judges are notorious for having their general political ideologies switch from one side of the spectrum to the other during their decades on the bench. This is why it's so crucial we get STRICT constructionists on the SCOTUS, not just "middle-of-the-road" wishy-washy sort-of constructionists, because you never know which way the latter types will end up going after getting appointed.

[Republicus2001]

but Nixon really wasn't that conservative

how about wage/price controls?

[meyer]

Actually, the Pledge only dates back to the mid to late 19th century, and the "under God" language was added in the 1950s.

That is true. Though I can't help but wonder if the Carter appointee wasn't even more offended by the phrase, ">>>and to the Republic for which it stands..."