by David G. Savage
President Obama announced his first judicial nomination today, elevating U.S. District Judge David F. Hamilton from southern Indiana to the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago.
White House officials described Hamilton as a seasoned judge who has shown an "empathy with real people" and who has bipartisan support in the Senate.
Hamilton once served as counsel to then-Indiana Gov. Evan Bayh, and he was chosen as a trial judge in 1994 by President Clinton. He also has the support of Republican Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana.
"We are trying to set a tone here with these appointments," an Obama adviser told reporters in a background briefing. "We are eager to put the confirmation wars behind us."
But within minutes of announcing the first court nomination, a conservative legal group labeled Judge Hamilton an "ultra-liberal" who is a "former fundraiser for ACORN [a liberal group that ran voter registration drives] and a former leader of the Indiana chapter of the ACLU."
The Judicial Confirmation Network, which rallied support for President Bush's court nominees, said Judge Hamilton had issued "extreme rulings," including a decision that invalidated part of an Indiana law requiring the registration of sex offenders.
In 2005, Hamilton ruled the Indiana legislature may not open its sessions with overtly Christian prayers. That decision was later set aside by the 7th Circuit Court because the plaintiffs who challenged the state practice had suffered no harm and therefore, lacked standing to sue.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) called the Hamilton nomination a good start.
"After the partisan and divisive approach that President Bush took with judicial nominations, I appreciate President Obama's serious ness in making his selection and his constructive engagement with both Sen. Lugar and Sen. Bayh," Leahy said. "The president is doing his part to remove these matters from partisan politics and that's a health change."
The judge is the nephew of former Democratic Rep. Lee Hamilton of Indiana.
Comments
Um...isn't it the President's perogative to appoint federal judges with the advice and consent of the Senate? Sorry, folks. Plenty of conservatives were appointed by Bush. The people have spoken and elected a liberal president to make judicial appointments.
Posted by: Bemused | March 17, 2009 12:46 PM
"former fundraiser for ACORN [a liberal group that ran voter registration drives]"
Only some Right Wing asshats would object to people being registered to vote and attempt to paint the activity as something "immoral".
LOL
This article is a strong testament of exactly why America voted these people out of our gov't in 2006 and 2008.
Posted by: captainkona | March 17, 2009 1:00 PM
Why shouldn't Pres Obama appoint liberal judges?
The Bush crime family just spent the last eight years filling the justice system all over America with reactionary right-wing lunatic fringe judges and as recent polling and recent elections have shown, this country doesn't want anything to do with the Republicon Taliban nuts anymore.
Posted by: Jimmy Justice | March 17, 2009 1:34 PM
Outstanding. Bravo.
Posted by: ornery | March 17, 2009 2:55 PM
Obama had a strong, planned grassroots organization that helped him get elected.
He is now confronted with a spontaneous grassroots movement to protest his exhorbitant taxes and proposals.
There is more passion, ardor and follow -through with those who are incensed than those who are artificially organized.
Hurry up 2010 and 2012. He's a one termer.
Posted by: Sam | March 17, 2009 2:56 PM
To the victors go the spoils. Read it and weep you right wing nuts.
Posted by: Ray Cohen | March 17, 2009 3:32 PM
Hello President Obama, I hope and pray that the Republicans have a wake up call and go after Obama's picks as ruthlessly as the dems went after President Bush's picks. I think the shoe just might begin to pinch a little.
Posted by: Paul | March 17, 2009 3:49 PM
Church and States should be separated; Otherwise, we will have another Middle East in America.
Posted by: keith | March 17, 2009 4:48 PM
Posted by: Sam | March 17, 2009 2:56 PM
What "exhorbitant" Taxes Sam? Be specific. Let's see if you really have a clue what you are talking about, or if you are just parroting back what you hear on talk radio.
Posted by: Mel | March 17, 2009 4:56 PM
So, did you consult with your other liberal writers on JournoList before writing this story?
Like how you, by labeling the group opposed to this nomination, attempted to marginalize their comments on Hamilton.
Yes, Hamilton was a fund raiser for ACORN - the community organization group under investigation for voter registration fraud in a number of states. You kinda forgot about that part of ACORN, huh? Or, that Barry worked for ACORN?
As any reporter (as compared to a short story writer) would have investigated Hamilton's history, a reporter would find the information about Hamilton's ACORN involvement and his extensive ACLU associations by just reading the text of his nomination hearing for District Judge. Maybe a reporter would even look at the relationships between Luger, Hamilton, and the other players in Indiana politics. But, then there really are no reporters left on the Tribune staff, just short story writers wanting to get their personal views out there in their own short story, masquerading as a real news article.
So, how long have you been a member of JournoList?
Posted by: slobber | March 17, 2009 5:45 PM
Yes, Acorn, so honest in the voter reg. drives, so upstanding, just the kind of ilk we want our judges coming from....
http://www.gopusa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=58865
Posted by: Heidi | March 23, 2009 12:22 PM
This ultra left wing America hating so-called "president" is going to place all his sock puppet ultra liberal goons in high positions so that the United States will not be recognized in 4 years. He hates this country; he hates people that are self-sufficient; he is a socialist/communist and is going to destroy this country.
Posted by: Bosshawg | March 25, 2009 3:28 PM