Obama can fill openings on federal bench, begin to weaken GOP hold on courts

[Hope And Change]

Obama can fill openings on federal bench, begin to weaken GOP hold on courts

Associated Press - November 8, 2008 12:35 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AP) - President-elect Obama will enter office with an immediate opportunity to begin shaping the federal courts by filling four dozen openings on trial and appeals courts.

Federal judges, with lifetime appointments, can be a president's most enduring legacy.

The traditionally conservative 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is the first court on which Obama can change the balance of power quickly. The Richmond, Virginia-based court has four openings. And it is divided now between five judges appointed by Republican presidents and five named by Democrat Bill Clinton.

Covering Maryland, the Carolinas and Virginia, the 4th Circuit hears a large share of national security and intelligence cases because Virginia is the home of the Pentagon and the Central Intelligence Agency.


http://www.wric.com/global/story.asp?s=9315820

[Arugula Latte]

1. This is perhaps the most important reason we NEEDED to win.

:toast:

[VADem11]

3. Exactly

The Supreme Court is going to be huge. Thank god we can replace Stevens with another liberal now that Obama will be President.

[LiberalFighter]

4. With younger justices too!!

And I say there is the likelihood of some of the extreme assholes will retire or die in office before Obama leaves office.

If some of ours are replaced with younger justices it's possible that Scalia and/or Thomas might decide to retire. Scalia is 72.

Age now, President Nominated, Age 2012

Stevens (88 Ford 96), Souter (69 Bush 77), Kennedy (72 Reagan 80), Ginsburg (75 Clinton 83), Breyer (70 Clinton 78).


Thomas would have to wait until 2013 before he could retire at full pay.


It is possible that Obama could nominate up to 7 before he leaves in 2013.

[Happyhippychick]

2. Thank Dog.

[Coexist]

5. Wooooo!

[MH1]

6. Yes but can't the republicans filibuster those appointments too?

Anyone, and I mean anyone, that Obama appoints will be called a "radical leftist" by the right and demonized on hate radio.

He should send a large slate of appointments at one time so there is pressure on the repukes to at least let some of them through.

[DefenseLawyer]

7. I realize their hypocrisy has no bounds

but wouldn't all that tape of them whining about an "up or down vote" and the nuclear option come back and bite them in the ass?

[cali]

8. Nah, he'll get almost all of them through.

the repukes won't want to be seen as obstructionists right off the bat and there are plenty of ways around it if they try. Pat Leahy plays hardball.

[symbolman]

9. This is like Christmas, New Years, the Fourth of July

and my birthday all rolled into ONE!!

The Human Beings are taking Over!!

Praise Obama! I bow before him, so glad to see this happen in my lifetime!