[AmishDude]

About the judge in question:

1. Ruled with the ACLU in a solicitations permit case.
2. Ruled against Microsoft on a copyright case.
3. Ruled with the ACLU keeping a school from suspending a student based on his web site.
4. After an armed standoff, the judge sentenced the Freemen to stiff sentences, one to 22.5 years to send "a loud and clear message". Interesting contrast to the last case.
5. Ordered the EPA to be MORE strict on pesticides.
6. But my favorite: "The Seattle judge has been an outspoken critic of federal sentencing guidelines and mandatory minimums that have eroded the discretion judges have in punishing offenders, particularly in drug cases."

In fact, the only "conservative" case I can find is where he ruled TCI cablevision can censor things that are placed on its cable system.

Here's a great quote: Coughenour was appointed to the federal bench by conservative president Ronald Reagan in 1981. But he hold's some decidedly liberal views for an American judge. He's perturbed by "the insanity of our gun laws." He is an admirer of Canada's rehabilitative justice system.

Fact is, any fair judge is likely to come out on the left side of an issue once in a while and based on cursory reading, I'd agree with 1-4. But this guy is a 100% liberal who has some problems with his own conscience, IMHO.

[AmishDude]

This is interesting:
District Judge John Coughenour had ruled testimony of a Ressam-bin Laden link inadmissible because of its "potential prejudice to jurors."

The date of the article: July 18, 2001

[habaes corpussel]

"Fact is, any fair judge is likely to come out on the left side of an issue once in a while and based on cursory reading, I'd agree with 1-4. But this guy is a 100% liberal who has some problems with his own conscience, IMHO."

The point is that Judge Coughenour rulings are based on a solid foundation of law and the case as presented. Nothing you presented shows me where Judge Coughenour has ruled based on a liberal political point of view. Besides what is the problem with a Judge with a conscience? It’s refreshing at least.

[Marysecretary]

Just because he's a Reagan appointee, doesn't mean he's right. Remember Souter! Oh, I wish we could jusr forget that lost cause.

[mykej]

"About the judge in question:

1. Ruled with the ACLU in a solicitations permit case."

Yes, and he ruled correctly. You shouldn't have to go to the government, hat in hand, to get a permit to exercise your free seech rights. How is this a liberal ruling?

" 2. Ruled against Microsoft on a copyright case."

Micrsoft claimed to own the word "window", even though they never even filed for a copyright on "Microsoft Windows Operating System" until 1995. In fact:
"Through its own use of the evidence, Microsoft essentially admits that these terms refer to the genus of computer software products that have windowing capability," he wrote.

Another good call. I didn't know all conservatives were slaves to Microsoft.

" 3. Ruled with the ACLU keeping a school from suspending a student based on his web site."

In his own time, at home, away from school, a student wrote something. The school tried to punish him for something that didn't even happen at school. You have to hate free speech to be a conservative? I don't think so.

" 4. After an armed standoff, the judge sentenced the Freemen to stiff sentences, one to 22.5 years to send "a loud and clear message". Interesting contrast to the last case."

How is that a contrast? They were convicted of fraud and conspiracy, and wanted to bring down the US banking system. Seems like they desrved a strong sentence.

" 5. Ordered the EPA to be MORE strict on pesticides."

He said the EPA has to perform the function it is mandated to perform.

6. But my favorite: "The Seattle judge has been an outspoken critic of federal sentencing guidelines and mandatory minimums that have eroded the discretion judges have in punishing offenders, particularly in drug cases."

I think mandatory minimums are idiotic myself. If judges consistantly do a bad job there are ways to get rid of them. They should be allowed to do their jobs. The federal sentencing guidelines should be just that: guidelines with room for discretion.

[Lancey Howard]

Bump for great research and great freeping.

Now that we know the judge is a liberal scumbag, let's see about the author, Connelly.

[B Knotts]

A bit off topic, I suppose, but this is intriguing to me.

Ruled against Microsoft on a copyright case.

How in the heck is that an example of liberalism?