LAT: Immigration judges lack apt backgrounds

[babylonsister]

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-usattys26may26,0,7211442.story?coll=la-home-center

Immigration judges lack apt backgrounds
A growing number of the jurists have little or no experience in that area of law. Some have strong Republican resumes.
By Richard B. Schmitt, Times Staff Writer
May 26, 2007

WASHINGTON — Over the last two years, U.S. Atty. Gen. Alberto R. Gonzales has appointed more than two dozen individuals as federal immigration judges.

The new jurists include a former treasurer of the Louisiana Republican Party, who was a legal advisor to the Bush Florida recount team after the 2000 presidential election. There is also a former GOP congressional aide who had tracked voter fraud issues for the Justice Department, and a Texan appointed by then-Gov. George W. Bush to a seat on the state library commission.

One thing missing on many of their resumes: a background in immigration law.

These lawyers are among a growing number of the nation's more than 200 immigration judges who have little or no experience in the law they were appointed to enforce.

The admission by former Justice Department official Monica M. Goodling this week that federal immigration judges were screened for their political credentials and loyalty to the Republican Party in possible violation of civil service laws is drawing new attention to the usually low-profile immigration bench.

more...

[seafan]

1. From Brooks Brothers Miami recount riot squad to immigration judge via Monica Goodling

This is a good place for this prior thread:

GOP recount riot operative is now immigration judge; another immigration judge frees Posada Carriles


Thanks for posting this LAT piece, babylonsister.