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'm sure both his staff and the Air Force know what they're doing.

Besides, if there was any conflict (and I don't think there would be), but if there was, it would be in his capacity as a judge, not as a senator. I fail to see why a military judge for the Air Force can't vote on the appointment of federal judges, though.

[wimpycat]

That is interesting. I've never thought of it before.

CBB, please see also #9, #18 & #21.

[BlueNgold]

The Federal Circuit Courts oversee the Military Courts of Appeals. I don't think there is any problem, but I am just a little gun shy with the current crop of libDems and anything remotely judicial, especially in the Senate.

[wimpycat]

Yeah, I know. But rather than speculate, I pinged a Constitutional scholar.

[fuzzthatwuz]

"More than most of them are doing, huh?"

I believe that Ted Kennedy's nose serves as a buoy marker every Saturday night somewhere on the Chesapeake. Does that count?

[FixitGuy]

Go Lindsey! Lordy, I wish we had 99 more like him!

[musical_airman]

I don't think that it will cause any separation of powers problems. As a senator, Sen. Graham deals with and is subject to constitutional law. While on duty as an USAF Judge, He deals entirely with the UCMJ- based on the constitution, but not the constitution- it's a completely different set of laws. There is no conflict of interest.
On a side note, I always thought that it was funny that all the folks who whine and complain about their Constituional rights being messed with (democraps) always forget (especially with regards to how they handle issues relating to the military) that the folks who put their lives on the line defending American Constitutional rights, do not have the same Constitutional rights they defend.

[NYC GOP Chick]

GROUPIE?! :(

[NYC GOP Chick]

Thank you! :)

[NYC GOP Chick]

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

Lindsey outside the NY Stock Exchange about 6 months ago

[Amelia]

Does that count?

Sorry, no. We won't tell Teddy tho. ;-)

[Leroy S. Mort]

Is Lindsey still buddies with John McCain, or did that romance cool off?

[Amelia]

Of course, as deport and Joe point out, there are also veterans. Even Kerry.

[fuzzthatwuz]

As the popular saying goes, "Just damn"!

[wimpycat]

He's still friends with John McCain. Sometimes they vote the same way, sometimes they don't.

[wimpycat]

Oh, yeah. There are lots of veterans in Congress.

[wimpycat]

Oh, that's a nice shot of the back of his balding head, LOL! Who's that next to him, Fritz Hollings?

(It's really sad when you start recognizing politicans from the back.)

[Leroy S. Mort]

I just got the funniest visual of Lindsey presiding at the McCain Mutiny Court Martial:

"Ah, but the strawberries! That's, that's where I had them. They laughed at me and made jokes, but I proved beyond the shadow of a doubt, and with, with geometric logic, that, that a duplicate key to the wardroom icebox did exist."

[dwd1]

The Military Court of Appeals is completely separate from any appeals that go through civilian channels... The court only hears appeals from those subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice...

And congressional personnel serving in some reserve military capacity is quite common (Not too many lawyers get in combat, anyway)... I am not sure but I think Steve Chabot may still have some military obligation...

And you have to remember also, that all commissioned officers are subject to recall to military service for the rest of their lives (unless they really do something stupid)..

[NYC GOP Chick]

No, Hollings wasn't there. Cornyn, Pryor and some others were. It happened to be a beautiful spring morning and since I had some time to kill before heading uptown to an appointment, I took a walk past the NYSE and saw a small fuss/commotion going on. When I walked closer, I recognized Lindsey right away and took out my little digital camera. I didn't know how long they'd be out there (they were inside a well-barricaded area), so I just started snapping away.