‘Skinny kid from Liberty City’ confirmed by Senate for lifetime federal judgeship [Two confirmed]

Miami Herald ^ | June 12, 2019 | Alex Dougherty

[jazusamo]

The U.S. Senate confirmed two Florida judges to lifetime positions on Wednesday, the latest effort by President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans to fill vacancies and reshape the federal courts.

Rodney Smith and Thomas Barber were confirmed by the full Senate after the judiciary committee recommended them with support from Republicans and some Democrats. Both of their nominations were supported by Sen. Marco Rubio and former Sen. Bill Nelson, and they were renominated by Trump early this year. Smith was confirmed by a 78-18 margin while Barber was confirmed by a 77-19 margin.

Smith, who has worked as a lawyer and judge in Miami-Dade County since 1999, will serve as a district judge for the Southern District of Florida which includes Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties. He worked as an assistant state attorney in Miami-Dade County and an assistant city attorney for the city of Miami Beach before becoming a state-level judge in 2012. Smith is also a member of the Federalist Society, a nationwide group of conservative lawyers that seeks to interpret the law as written and plays a large role in Republican Supreme Court nominations.

“I applaud today’s confirmation of Judge Rodney Smith and Judge Tom Barber, both of whom enjoy strong, bipartisan support — as evidenced by their Senate confirmation votes — and were identified and recommended as highly qualified individuals by the Florida Federal Judicial Nominating Commission last Congress,” Rubio said in a statement. “I am confident that Judges Smith and Barber will continue their record of exemplary service as federal district court judges.”

[jazusamo]

More winning.

MAGA!

[arista]

Actually it looks like 5 district court judges were confirmed today, and 7 total this week.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_federal_judges_appointed_by_Donald_Trump

Unfortunately each nominee got lots of Democrat votes, which is a sign that they are likely not particularly conservative.

[Defiant]

Not sure about this one. Liberty City? Bill Nelson supported? That’s two red flags that mean we at least need more info about these guys. Could be some derp shenanigans.

[DoughtyOne]

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[marktwain]

Rubio is for them.

That is concerning.

[Blennos]

Or they could be minorities which the dems don’t dare oppose.

[taxcontrol]

7 per week, yeah that sounds about the right pace.

[jazusamo]

MAGA!

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[House Atreides]

Actually it looks like 5 district court judges were confirmed today, and 7 total this week.
*************************************************
5 today, 1 yesterday and 3 on Monday for total of 9. But the three on Monday were completions of work done last week. There were no judicial confirmation votes last week. So, for these past two weeks, the Senate is averaging 4 1/2 judicial confirmations per week. That is an acceleration from their earlier pace and would be the minimally acceptable pace if they would keep it up — but they won’t because other upcoming work will distract from this effort. The Republican Senate leadership needs to accelerate this effort WHILE THEY CAN. They can work on additional days of the week besides the Monday - Wednesday work schedule they’re currently on. And, for some weeks, they could also work additional hours on Monday through Wednesday when that will help.

[Ciaphas Cain]

Liberty City?

Guy must have heck of some judicial experience.

[Lurkinanloomin]

Agree, anybody Rubio likes is likely not what I’m looking for.

[kiryandil]

They’re both Federalist Society members.

[FLT-bird]

Typically the knives don’t come out until you’re talking about Circuit Court judges.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Granted, PDJT has done an AMAZING job for America, but if ALL he does for the remainder of this term and his next (aside from that ‘wall’ thing!) is to realign the courts to the MIDDLE, it will be A Thing Of Beauty!

The Socialists have used our own courts to ram through their BS when they can’t get their way via legitimate elections.

I am SO happy we have PDJT! Best. Election. Ever. EVER! MAGA!

[jazusamo]

I am SO happy we have PDJT! Best. Election. Ever. EVER! MAGA!

Amen! Amen! and Amen!

[SuperLuminal]

"I am SO happy we have PDJT! Best. Election. Ever. EVER! MAGA! "

Absolutely!

[Defiant]

Those are very strong plus factors.

[bakkentom]

Daniel Bress messed up last week. We tried to get him into the 9th circuit. He was born and grew up in California. He went to college in another state, as well as law school. Spend the last 10 years in Virginia private law practice.

Feinstein called us on this. Graham acknowledged this but said he could not find another suitable nominee.

Suggest we move him to 4th circuit and strongly suggest one of the two GOP appointed judges (born 1940 and 1944) go to senior status now!

[bakkentom]

For district judges only 2 hours of filibuster, er ripening is allowed when nominee reaches the Senate floor. So it seems we can turn out 4 of these trial judges per day on average.

For a typical 4 day work week that is 16 judges per week. Am I wrong. Time to turbocharged this process.

Similarly with 30 hours of ripening the circuit judges can be turned out one per week.

[Ancesthntr]

I’d like to know where these 2 guys are on the 2nd Amendment. If they are legitimately and strongly pro-gun, then everything else will take care of itself quite nicely. If they’re not, then they are statist tools (even if a bit less Leftist than someone that Hillary would have nominated). That they are members of the Federalist Society is promising, but not definitive by itself.