Free Republic

Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann came under a barrage of criticism Wednesday after announcing a set of reforms apparently aimed at increasing the governments' influence on judicial appointments. The Justice Minister suggested far-reaching changes to the way judges and court presidents are appointed, sparking angry responses from both Knesset and the justice establishment. One proposal concerns alterations to the composition of the Judges Election Committee, which is responsible for appointing judges to the Supreme Court. The committee is presently made up of nine members: The justice minister, an additional minister representing the Justice Ministry, the Supreme Court President, two Supreme Court...

<p>President Bush's nomination of Allegheny County Judge David S. Cercone for an opening on the U.S. District Court in Western Pennsylvania was characterized Friday as a move to break the logjam on federal judge nominations.</p> <p>"Fundamentally, it's an old-fashion political deal. The Democrats won't confirm Republican nominations until they get a number of Democratic nominees," said G. Terry Madonna, political science professor at Millersville University in Lancaster County.</p>