[Howlin]

I'll be damned!

[Frohickey]

Where do they get these judges that don't know how to read?

[Dog Gone]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A federal judge on Monday blocked President Bush's appointment of a conservative lawyer to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

Commissioners serve six-year terms and Bush had no vacancy to fill, U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler said.

The Justice Department had filed a lawsuit on Dec. 7 seeking to have Peter Kirsanow seated on the commission. The department said that a 2000 appointment by then-President Clinton had expired.

``The court has upheld the independence of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights,'' Commission Chairwoman Mary Frances Berry said. ``If they can tell us what to do on one thing, they can tell us what to do on something else.''

Attorney Robb Kellner, who represents Kirsanow, said he expects the Justice Department to quickly appeal the ruling.

Kirsanow, of Cleveland, was appointed to replace Victoria Wilson, an ally of Berry.

Berry and four other commissioners on the eight-member civil rights panel contend Wilson should serve a six-year term. The Bush administration and the three Republican-appointed commissioners say Wilson's term expired Nov. 29 at the end of the term of the commissioner she replaced -- the late Judge A. Leon Higginbotham Jr.

The case pitted the White House and Justice Department against Berry, who is often critical of the civil rights record of federal agencies and who was harshly critical of Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, the president's younger brother, for his handling of the 2000 presidential elections.

The Bush administration has said appointing Kirsanow is required by law and maintains a partisan balance that was intended by Congress when it set up procedures to replace commissioners.

The White House appointment of Kirsanow would shift the commission's makeup from a 5-3 split that generally favors Berry to a 4-4 split.

The commission has no enforcement power, but publicizes civil rights problems it perceives in government policy and government agencies.

------

[knak]

that stinks

[Sloth]

Judge = Clinton appointee.

[anton]

Judge Kessler was appointed to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in July 1994. She received a B.A. from Cornell University and an LL.B. from Harvard Law School. Following graduation, Judge Kessler was employed by the National Labor Relations Board, served as Legislative Assistant to a U.S. Senator and a U.S. Congressman.

Appointed by Klintoon

[livius]

That's one judge who had her mind made up even before the case got to the courtroom, I'm sure. I certainly hope they appeal this all the way up.

[cincinnati_Steve]

Berry's logic would have been well applied to Gerald Ford serving an entire 4 year term. I really, really, dislike her and her racist cohorts. Je$$e Jackass will be crowing about this tonight.

[BerniesFriend]

I wish Bush would just exec order that useless group right out of existence..

[Rivendell]

Let me get this straight; The 1983 Law had a provision in it stating that commisioners appointed und the circumstances as Wilson was, could only serve out that term (in wilson's case she's outta here), but since the 1994 version didn't say anything one way or the other about this, this dipsh!t judge feels she has the authority do what ever the hell she wants?!?!?!?

Just what the is the color of the sky on these liberal idiot's planet?!? (me thinks it be commie pinko red!)

[lormand]

This proves the extent to which the stench of liberalism has permeated every crack and crevice of every institution in Washington DC.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Another Janet Reno Mini-Me

[Texas_Jarhead]

Un-Freakin-believable!

[anton]

More about the judge:

8/2000 "Three federal judges appointed by President Clinton took a lawsuit filed by Linda Tripp away from a Reagan appointee, and the case was reassigned by computer to one of the three, court records show. The three, Emmet G. Sullivan, Paul L. Friedman and Gladys Kessler, run the calendar committee that controls the docket at the U.S. District Courthouse. "

[VinnyTex]

Chambers:  (202) 354-3440

Judge Gladys KesslerJudge Kessler was appointed to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in July 1994.  She received a B.A. from Cornell University and an LL.B. from Harvard Law School.  Following graduation, Judge Kessler was employed by the National Labor Relations Board, served as Legislative Assistant to a U.S. Senator and a U.S. Congressman, worked for the New York City Board of Education, and then opened a public interest law firm.  In June 1977, she was appointed Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.  From 1981 to 1985, Judge Kessler served as Presiding Judge of the Family Division and was a major architect of one of the nation?s first Multi-Door Courthouses.  She served as President of the National Association of Women Judges from 1983 to 1984, and now serves on the Executive Committee of the ABA?s Conference of Federal Trial Judges and the U.S. Judicial Conference's Committee on Court Administration and Management.

[DoctorMichael]

The Justice Department said it will appeal the judge's ruling.

Great! So how long will THIS take?

[theophilusscribe]

Time to cut all funding to the Civil Rights Commission. To counteract the political fallout—establish a commission that promotes responsibility and unity within our country. All appointees would then be by Bush, and Peter Kirsanow can chair it. Out with the old, in with the new. We live in a different world than when the Civil Rights Commission was necessary. Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera . . .

[Stirner]

We know how she ruled, but did she explain her reasoning? If the current law is silent on the issue under question, does the benefit of the doubt go to the present squatter? Or does the language of the former law have some weight? Did she conclude that, since Congress removed the former language, they by implication wanted 6 year terms no matter what?

But my real question is, at this level, do Federal judges have to give an explanation of their decisions, or can they just rule without citing a basis for their edicts?

[grimalkin]

You've got to be kidding me! *shakes head*

[yikes]

This ruling gives me deja vu. Yup, back to the dark days when liberal judges stuck their fingers in our eyes just because they could.

Will be interesting to see what kind of tortured, twisted and sick logic this so-called judge used to justify her ruling.