U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham sworn in as Air Force judge

AP via The State (SC Newspaper) ^ | 11/5/03 | AP

[wimpycat]

COLUMBIA, S.C. - U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has been sworn in as a reserve appellate military judge on the U.S. Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals.

Graham is the only member of the U.S. Senate to serve in either a guard or reserve unit. He holds the rank of lieutenant colonel.

The court of criminal appeals is the highest judicial body within the Air Force. The court reviews and hears appeals of convictions by court-martial within the Air Force.

"It is a great honor and privilege to have been selected to serve on the Air Force Criminal Court of Appeals," Graham said. "Over the past twenty years, the fine men and women of the United States Air Force have had a great impact on my life and I am excited about the opportunity to continue my service in this capacity."

Graham joined the U.S. Air Force in 1982 and was assigned as an assistant staff judge advocate at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter. He was selected in 1983 to be the area defense counsel at Shaw, where he served one year.

He then served as a circuit trial counsel and was transferred to the Rhein-Main Air Base in Germany. Graham left active duty in 1988, established a private law practice and began serving in the South Carolina Air National Guard.

After Graham was elected to Congress in 1995, he joined the U.S. Air Force Reserves.

[wimpycat]

I've never heard of a Senator or Congressman being sworn in as a judge before.

[wimpycat]

ping

[wimpycat]

.

[Amelia]

Graham is the only member of the U.S. Senate to serve in either a guard or reserve unit. He holds the rank of lieutenant colonel.

I didn't know that! Very cool!

[billorites]

"Graham is the only member of the U.S. Senate to serve in either a guard or reserve unit."

If the criticism of GWB's military service has merit, being in the guard or reserve is something to be ashamed of.

[NYC GOP Chick]

Thanks for remembering to ping me! :)

[CholeraJoe]

wimpycat beat me to pinging Lindsey's Manhattan groupie.

[wimpycat]

ROFL! I wouldn't forget her.

[BlueNgold]

I'm curious if this issue raises Separation of Powers problems. I would hate for The Good Senator to be forced to recuse himself from judicial confirmation votes because of this selection.

[wimpycat]

I think they've probably already thought of that. But Graham would be a reserve military judge. Military courts are a different animal.

[wimpycat]

He even pulled his reserve duty during the war. I think he filled in some military law office in Charleston for a couple of days. Big whoop. But it still counts!

[deport]

Graham is the only member of the U.S. Senate to serve in either a guard or reserve unit. He holds the rank of lieutenant colonel.

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I didn't know that! Very cool!

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Not sure what that is trying to say... I guess it means serving while being a Senator..... There have been other Senators that have served in Guard or Reservie units....

[Amelia]

But it still counts!

More than most of them are doing, huh?

[wimpycat]

I think it means he's the only sitting U.S. Senator who is also serving in a guard or reserve unit at the same time.

[Dog Gone]

I don't think Senators have to recuse themselves on any vote. Has Ted Kennedy ever recused himself on bills involving drunk driving?

[wimpycat]

I think Rep. Steve Buyer is also a reservist. Republican, too, of course. There might be one other reservist besides these two in the entire congress.

[Donna Lee Nardo]

I suppose I am Lindsey's Long Island fan then. Where are the photos, please?

[BlueNgold]

I just think it makes for an interesting issue. I hope his staff has fully researched the issue. The last thing we need is someone of his calibre being attacked over procedural errors.

[Joe 6-pack]

This is cool. I wonder if this may be a historical first...

As a seated Senator, Graham is serving in legislative capacity.

As a commissioned officer, LTC Graham is an agent of the Executive Branch.

His latest duty assignment within his executive capacity is a Judicial appoointment.

Could be the first simultaneous balance of powers hat trick! (I know he technically isn't part of the Judicial Branch, but it at least rates an asterisk in the history books.)

[Joe 6-pack]

"Graham is the only member of the U.S. Senate to serve in either a guard or reserve unit."

Yeah, but did you know that John Kerrey served in Vietnam?