Libby Draws Conservative Appellate Panel

[LeighAnn]

Source: Casper Star Tribune

Two of the three judges considering whether to delay former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby's prison sentence were Republican appointees.

Libby's request was assigned to Judges David B. Sentelle, Karen Lecraft Henderson and David Tatel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Sentelle was put on the bench by President Reagan, Henderson by the first President Bush and Tatel by President Clinton.

But judicial politics haven't helped Libby so far. He was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton, whom President Bush put on the court in 2001. Walton, citing Libby's "overwhelming" guilt, also refused to delay the sentence.

<snip>

The three judges said Wednesday that Fitzgerald has until Friday to respond to the request. Their order was the first public glimpse at the panel that will consider the issue. Appellate panels rotate during the summer and cases are assigned to whichever panel is sitting when the motion is filed.


Read more: http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2007/06/20/ap/washington/d8psqcmg0.txt

[aquart]

1. Well, doesn't this get interesting?

[antiimperialist]

2. Judge Walton and Fitzgerald were both Republican appointees

...therefore this little fact scares me not.

[aquart]

3. According to The Next Hurrah, we lucked out.

<http://thenexthurrah.typepad.com/> Extremely encouraging comment from emptywheel.

[Benhurst]

4. Good. That could free up more bed space for more hardened criminals

like Martha Stewart.

God, this country has become a joke -- and a bad one at that.

[Melynn]

5. Martha Stewart will go to a woman's prison

Libby will go to a men's prison. So keeping Libby out of prison won't free up space for Stewart.

[Benhurst]

6. Yeah, and Martha Stewart faced her (unjust) punishment, shall we

say, like a man, unlike (oh-so-justly-convicted) little Scooter.

[Toots]

7. David B. Sentelle

Was one of the judges that met secretly to put together the Independent Council against Clinton. I have no faith in the Legal system any longer. It will favor Republicans from here on out. I will bet most anything Libby gets what he wants.

[BlueManDude]

8. Somehow it always comes down to Sentelle.

[Supersedeas]

9. Law and order vs. Ambiguity and politics (which side are Sent and Hend on?)