Posted on 10/31/2013 10:50:26 AM PDT by jazusamo
Senate Republicans on Thursday filibustered one of President Obama’s nominees to sit on the federal appeals court in Washington, arguing that while the woman is well-qualified, confirming her would allow Democrats to shift the political balance to the left on the country's second-most important court.
The vote was the latest skirmish in the fierce, though usually hidden, battle over federal judgeships, which are increasingly becoming a part of the political spoils system.
Republicans accused Democrats of trying to pack the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals by adding Patricia Millett to the bench, saying Mr. Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid are still smarting from several rebukes the court has dealt to their agenda, including a high-profile decision ruling the president’s recess appointments unconstitutional.
The D.C. appeals court hears many of the key appeals from federal regulatory agencies, which is why it is regularly called the second-most important court in the country, behind the Supreme Court.
“They think they can shift the balance there and be able to advance their agenda throughout the judicial process,” said Sen. Jeff Sessions, an Alabama Republican who himself was an early casualty of the judicial wars when Democrats blocked his nomination to a federal judgeship in 1986.
Democrats — and Mr. Reid in particular — have been open about their desire to flip the court to a more liberal ideological slant. Over the summer, in an interview with NPR, the Nevada Democrat said he was furious at the judges who ruled against Mr. Obama’s recess appointment, calling the three judges “terrible.”
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
How can they let anyone in here that do not pay taxes at 125% or more above the poverty line?
We should not be in the business of providing welfare to third world second grade drop outs and their families.
FDR tried to pack the Supreme Court to get more New Deal legislation thru. It didn't work though.
The Republicans in Congress know their rectums are on the line because We The People are fed up and, shall we say, pissed?
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