Diverse Obama picks changing face of federal judiciary

[madinmaryland]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-md-conservative-court-shift-20100502,0,2572084.story

Lost in the gathering debate over President Barack Obama's next Supreme Court pick, a profound shift in the federal judiciary is taking place below the high court.

Working methodically, and drawing sporadic fire from left and right, Obama is gradually reshaping the U.S. courts.

Already, he's tipped the balance of two appellate circuits to Democratic-appointed majorities, with a third about to flip. He also is choosing a larger proportion of women and minorities for lifetime federal judgeships than other presidents.

The diversity of his nominees is "striking. He's clearly, I think, eclipsed everyone, and so early in the administration," said Carl Tobias, a University of Richmond law professor who follows federal court issues.

A leading example of Obama's judicial makeover: the appeals court that serves Maryland, which is influential in national security matters.

Half of its judges were Republican appointees when Obama took office. One of them, J. Harvie Wilkinson III, argued, in a January 2009 article, against the prospect of a liberal Obama "takeover" of the court.

[Tarheel_Dem]

1. But he'll get no credit for it around here. Everyone is so focused on..

Justice Kennedy's replacement, but I'm confident the President will make an appropriate choice.

[madinmaryland]

2. Not just here. I'm glad to see that Obama is making his imprint on the Judiciary.

[NJmaverick]

3. I question the liberal credentials of those unreccing a thread that is about

appointing higher portions of women and minorities to life time appointments

[madinmaryland]

4. I'm not concerned about reccing. I am concerned about the direction

the courts have taken over the last 30 years, and am glad to see that Obama is appointing a diverse group of people to the courts.

[NJmaverick]

5. The Dems need to hold the White House for at least the next 2 terms

if we have any hope of correcting the damage done by Bush Sr and Jr.