Clinton Appointed Judges. Question. (vanity)

Vanity | 01/26/2005 | Calorman

[CCCnative]

My son is taking a US history course in college and the discussion came up of all the judges that Clinton appointed during his term. The instructor said the vacancies were caused by retirements. It seemed very convenient. My question is: was there some widespread motivation that moved a huge amount of federal judges to retire and Clinton to thereby appoint over 350 judges? Please give references to your answers.

[Dreagon]

Well, if there was a motivation other than age...it could be that since most were liberals they wanted to be sure and retire while a Dem was in office to replace them with more liberals.

[Congressman Billybob]

When your son does his homework, not you for him, Google is a fine place to start. He can establish that retirements of existing judges and creation of additional judgeships to handle the growing case load were roughly equal. So only about half of the Clinton appointments were due to retirements.

Congressman Billybob

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[CCCnative]

Actually I thought the judges were fired, I told him so and his teacher corrected him. I'm trying to find out what really went on for my sake as much as his.

[Congressman Billybob]

Federal judges cannot be "fired." As the Constitution says, they serve for life. They can only be removed if impeached by the House, and tried and convicted by the Senate. The last two judges so removed in the last 20 years were Nixon (in Ohio as I recall) and Hastings in Florida (who is now a Congressman).

Billybob

[CCCnative]

Thanks for your input/facts on this. I am duly humbled once again by the focus and accuracy of the FR folks. Life is all about learning. FR really helps.