by James Oliphant
Which front-runner for the vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court is favored by conservative activists?
That's an easy question: None of them.
The Judicial Confirmation Network, which pushes for conservative nominees for the high court, has posted critical web videos for three of the identified candidates to fill the slot opened by Justice David Souter's retirement. Should President Obama choose either U.S. Solicitor General Elena Kagan, Chicago federal appeals judge Diane Wood, or New York federal appeals judge Sonia Sotomayor, the vids outline the likely points of attack.
But will Senate Republicans utilize those talking points when and if the time comes? In an interview Friday, Sen. Jeff Sessions, the new ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which will review Obama's pick, said he would not "pre-judge" any choice until he or she comes before the committee.
The Kagan ad is above. You'll find Sotomayor and Wood after the jump.
Wood:
Sotomayor:
The Jennifer Granholm project must still be in turnaround.
Comments
Prez does not "have" to pick a woman.
He could probably nominate Bo and get a confirmation.
Intellectual force will prove a more important factor over the next few years than gender or national origin.
That's why a Larry Tribe would be the most effective nomination at this moment.
Besides, Prez is likely to get 3 more nominations before the 8 years is out, isn't he?
Posted by: ornery | May 18, 2009 12:46 PM
Sen. Jeff Sessions, the new ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which will review Obama's pick, said he would not "pre-judge" any choice
No prejudice here......he hates them all equally. No matter who!
Posted by: bill r. | May 18, 2009 1:35 PM
I hope the President picks the most liberal justice he can find and there isn't a thing the "rightie tighties" can do about it. Sweet. Payback's a b**ch isn't it.
Posted by: Nancy | May 18, 2009 2:36 PM
Please, Please, Please let Obama find an openly lesbian black muslim to appoint so that Sessions head explodes.
Posted by: Nick | May 18, 2009 2:54 PM
The results of Angel Justice research:
Sonia Sotomayor was responsible for supervising judge Rosemary Pooler when Pooler was a District judge. That is, complaints about misconduct were to be handled by judges on the United States second circuit Court of Appeals, where Sonia Sotomayor was a judge. A complaint was made about Rosemary Pooler. The complaint centered on Rosemary Pooler taking on a case where Rosemary Pooler and her daughter had direct business dealings with one of the litigants and which business dealings had turned sour. The litigant was bringing to the attention of the district court, alleged misconduct by Anthony Cardona, Thomas Mercure, of the Supreme Court of New York Appellate Division Third Department. The alleged misconduct included misstating or making misleading statements about the law and facts of a case. The matter was essentially ignored by Judith Kaye of the Court of Appeals and thus the case went to Rosemary Pooler of the District court. Rosemary Pooler, who should have recused herself as the case involved someone who had business dealings with her and her daughter. Rosemary Pooler also misstated the facts and misled, and cited non-existent "facts" in order have a dismissal of a complaint of misconduct and leave the State judges in the clear. Thus in the end, one judge after another provided the legal cover for others.
It is now up to Sonia Sotomayor to explain why she did little or nothing to investigate the complaint against Rosemary Pooler, which was the domain of the second circuit court. The people of the United States deserve an explanation before we place Sonia Sotomayor on the United States Supreme Court.
Posted by: Angel Justice | May 18, 2009 5:57 PM
These nomination battles are so predictable. Lip service is paid to qualifications, termperment, etc. but all the lobbying groups care about on both sides is where the nominee stands on abortion. Obama is going to pick someone with a track record of supporting abortion rights, so conservative lobbiets are going to reject them all. It's sad that SCOTUS nominations have boiled down to one issue.
And I agree with Ornery. Obama needs to pick the most qualified person, not get browbeaten into selecting someone based on their race, sex, etc.
Posted by: Herbie H. | May 19, 2009 11:42 AM