Posted on 01/25/2006 8:05:23 PM PST by OrangeDaisy
Wednesday, Sen. Ophelia Ford was in a federal courtroom in Memphis fighting to keep her State Senate seat, but even though only three senators were subpoena to be there, more than half of the State Senate showed up in Memphis.
The judge said she would make a final decision by Wednesday of next week, and until then senators can not void the election of Sen. Ford.
Senators were supposed to be debating an ethics bill on Wednesday, but all 17 senatos who voted to void the election went to support their colleagues in Memphis. 16 Republicans and one Democrat went the federal courthouse in Memphis.
Tennessee State Senators, Mark Norris, Curtis Person and Don McLeary were subpoenaed to appear in court, and ordered to attend. All the others came voluntarily.
All of them voted to void the election of Sen. Ford.
“I feel good, and I feel like the judge will be fair,” said Sen. Ford on Wednesday morning on her way into the courthouse.
The Memphis senator sued the entire Senate after they voted to void her special election. In court she sat behind her attorneys as the Attorney General for the state of Tennessee argues against her suit and on behalf of the state senators.
Paul Summer told Judge Bernice Donald that the Senate had not even taken final action to void Ford’s election. Saying, therefore it is wrong for the court to intervene.
Meanwhile, all 17 senators sat off to the side watching the entire hearing.
Senate Majority Leader Ron Ramsey said this morning before the hearing that he'll push for the second vote to throw out the election unless the court extends its restraining order.
Is there any way to recall a judge in Tennessee? Can the Senate act if this judge exceeds her constitutional powers?
The Florida legislators could have taken such action in the chad wars, but backed off. It sounds as if maybe these legislators might be ready to take some action if necessary. It seems as if they are making a considerable political gesture by attending the hearing. If so, good for them.
Seems like an area that should be reserved to the state courts at best. Might even be a "political question" which is even beyond state court review.
Interesting this federal judge, meddling in state elections to benefit a political patron.
Congress should impeach this judge for judicial misconduct and send a message.......... /wishful thinking.
Objection, relevance. (She's a federal judge.)
Ophelia charged racism when it appeared that the full Senate would vote to invalidate the election where dead people & non-residents voted. She said the voters civil rights were violated in a district that was 85% black. I assume this is what made the federal court believe they had jurisdiction.
Ah.
Well then it would seem to me the court can decide if there was racism.
I don't think that gives the court the right to decide a state election.
It just blows me away, this is judicial misconduct of the worst sort, a federal court meddling in a state election and enjoining a state senate from it's constitutional duties and privileges all for political patronage.
Too bad we can't count on Arlen Spectre to do his job on the judicial committee and yank this judge's leash with an investigation.
The judge was recommended to President Clinton for appointment by Senator John Ford, but I'm sure there was no favortism at all!
The Judge is off the "plantation". Remember New Jersey, and how the supremes refused to enter the fray? Precedent? Settled law? Come on, we're talking RATS here.
Congressman Billybob
Latest column: "The 'Chocolate' Minds of Mayor Nagin and Senator Clinton"
LOL! I'm sure she's a cousin or something.
Of Clinton's ;-)
"There are also the irrelevant (yeah. right) points that this federal judge is a black, female Democrat who was appointed by Bill Clinton. Surely that couldn't have anything to do with her actions in the case, now could it?"
AND, no doubt, this is the reason for the big Republican turnout, to show, by force, that they would not stand for judicial meddling resulting in a dismissal.
This is a federal judge, a friend of the ford family and a slick willie appointee.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.