Conservatives' Grip on Key Virginia Court Is at Risk

[cal04]

A growing list of vacancies on the federal appeals court in Richmond is heightening concern among Republicans that one of the nation's most conservative and influential courts could soon come under moderate or even liberal control, Republicans and legal scholars say.

A number of prominent Republican appointees have left or announced plans to leave the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, which has played a key role in terrorism cases and has long been known for forceful conservative rulings and judicial personalities.

Republican concerns also are fueled by the pending Democratic takeover of Congress, as several of President Bush's 4th Circuit nominees were already bottled up in the Senate when Republicans ran it. From the GOP's perspective, the situation now will worsen.

The 4th Circuit's rulings affect everyone who lives, works or owns a business in the area, which encompasses Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and the Carolinas. The court's influence also has been widely felt nationally, and the emerging battle over it is part of a broader struggle for control of the federal judiciary.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/17/AR2006121701127.html

[DeepModem Mom]

1. A HUGH K AND R!

[ninkasi]

2. Good news

The conservative grip on our judicial system has become alarming to me. As a matter of fact, since Reagan was in charge of misleading our country, conservatism has chipped away at both our economy and our courts. They might claim to hold to conservative values, but they ignore everything the writers of the Constitution intended our country to be. The only amendment they respect is the Second. All the others, free speech, freedom from illegal search and seizure, freedom of religion, no merger of church and state, are considered by many, like Gonzalez, to be as "quaint" as the Geneva Conventions.

[iam]

10. That's because

Arms are a means by which people take power from others and concentrate(conserve)it in themselves. All the other rights distribute power, so conservatism seeks to destroy those rights.

[williesgirl]

3. Happy to be 5th vote to spread the good word.

[alittlelark]

4. Boo Hoo....

:evilgrin:

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

5. This means we need a Democratic president in 08 and Bigger Majorities

In both the House and Senate

[gratuitous]

6. I wonder why the Post would say such a thing?

"From the GOP's perspective, the situation now will worsen." Aren't our courts supposed to be neutral arbiters and interpreters of the law? Why would bringing a balance of judicial views to the Fourth Circuit be viewed as a worsening situation, unless the avowed goal of the GOP is to politicize our court system? And if that is their intent, should we allow such America-hating demagogues anywhere near the levers of power in our beloved country?

[onehandle]

9. That's the first thing I thought.

Clearly, WaPo is alerting Conservatives of a coming "problem."

Why not, "Liberals' Grip on Key Virginia Court Is at Hand."

Hmm...

[underpants]

7. So the Republicans didn't approve all the judges they needed to

just like the last time that they had the run of the Senate. You may remember the startling statistics on how the Republicans weren't able to sign off on any judges when they held the majority during the Clinton years.

[MasonJar]

8. AW SHUCKS1

[swimboy]

11. That would be sweet!

He that will na when he may
Canna when he would-a!

Sounds like Jay Sekulow has not been the best advice-giver. I guess the Decider would have asked someone else except he has such a hard time making a decision.

There are bound to be a number of civil rights cases coming up in the next couple of years, due to a recent change in the Constitution of Virginia. I sure would like to have a liberal majority on the court for those.

[dorktv]

12. hahaha yay!