After what seems like a battle without end, Judge Leslie Southwick has now been confirmed by the U.S. Senate to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a 59-38 vote.
Here is FRC's press release on Judge Southwick's nomination:
FRC Praises Confirmation of Judge Southwick
October 24, 2007 - Wednesday
Washington, D.C. - Tony Perkins, President of Family Research Council, made the following comments following Senate confirmation of Judge Leslie Southwick to the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit:
"We are pleased that Judge Leslie Southwick, a veteran of the Iraq war with 11 years of judicial experience, can finally move forward after struggling for a simple up-or-down vote. However, the unconstitutional use of judicial filibusters continues as other well-qualified judicial nominees are vilified and blocked by Senate leadership and their liberal allies. I urge the Senate to end the backlog of judicial nominations and allow a fair up-or-down vote for each nominee.
"I thank President Bush and Senators Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Trent Lott (R-MS), Thad Cochran (R-MS), and Arlen Specter (R-PA) for their hard work to overcome stalling tactics and confirm this highly-qualified nominee to the bench."
Comments (3)
I think all nominees should get an up or down vote. I do however remember the republicans holding up many of Clinton's nominees in committee preventing that from happening.
It would be nice if there was more acknowledgment from conservatives of how wrong it was for the republicans to do that when complaining about the democrats.
Sometimes my eyes roll back so far I can see the ground behind me listening to republicans complaining that democrats are behaving............well the same as the republicans did.
Bet they are glad they didn't do the "nuclear option" now.
October 24, 2007 11:17 PM | Comment Permalink
Southwick's delay was due to democrat objections to an earlier decision of hers in a custody case. She ruled that a women in a lesbian relationship could not be considered a fit parent because she was in said relationship, and as such not morally fit to have children (Her child was from a previous relationship).
There were other, more valid, reasons for ruling against the women, so few object to her ruling - just to the reasoning that lead her there.
Its the nature of political games now: Whichever party has the presidental position appoints judges who will further its own ideologies, and the other declares them unfit to judge and tries to block. When the presidental position changes hands, the situation reverses. It doesn't matter if its democrats or republicans who are doing the appointing, they will still pick judges based on their alignment with the party line on key issues.
October 26, 2007 2:41 AM | Comment Permalink
*blinks*
Leslie is a man? Hmm... I assumed female from the name. My mistake.
November 1, 2007 4:48 AM | Comment Permalink