Posted on 07/11/2009 2:55:00 PM PDT by Mila
The Republican chief judge of the Richmond-based federal appeals court has retired suddenly because of illness, giving President Obama another opening to fill on what was once considered the nation's most conservative appellate court.
Karen Williams of South Carolina, the first female chief judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, stepped down this week shortly after learning that she was in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, according to her family. Alzheimer's, for which there is no cure, can cause mental deterioration and memory loss. Williams is 57 years old.
The 4th Circuit, an influential voice on national security issues, hears cases from Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia and the Carolinas. Earlier vacancies have whittled away its strong Republican majority, and the court now has five judges appointed by Republican presidents and five appointed by Democrats. Williams's departure creates a fifth vacancy, so the court could gain a 10 to 5 Democratic majority during Obama's term.
Patricia Connor, clerk of the court, said Williams's unexpected retirement became effective immediately, with William B. Traxler Jr. taking over as chief judge yesterday. Traxler, also of South Carolina, was nominated to U.S. District Court by President George H.W. Bush in 1991. In 1998, President Bill Clinton nominated him to the 4th Circuit.
Chief judges are chosen without regard to political affiliation, following federal laws that elevate the most senior judge under the age of 64 with at least one year of experience on the court.
Williams, whose retirement comes just two years after she took over as chief judge, had been mentioned as a possible Supreme Court nominee during the George W. Bush administration.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
She should have stayed on as long as she could under the ADA. Many people function well the first few years after diagnosis.
On a lighter note, why retire?
90% of the judges on the 9th Circus have dementia.
If Kennedy, Scalia, Alito, Roberts, or Thomas announce anything, its time to start screaming and running around like chickens with their heads cut off.
God bless this woman and all who suffer from this awful disease.
Alzheimer’s is the worst thing ever.
I wish all the money and energy that goes into curing easily preventable STDs would go into curing Alzheimer’s and similar conditions.
I couldn't be more in agreement with that statement.
I was saying almost the exact same thing to my husband just the other day. We both have relatives who have been afflicted. Wonderful vibrant people who suddenly began to falter. Heartbreaking.
Wow, 57 is *very* young to be diagnosed with Alzheimers.
Has Sotomayor been tested? Would explain a lot.
Poor Karen. 57 is awfully young to have this happen. I once had a family friend who was an MD who retired and informed all of his patients it was because of “early on-set Alzheimer’s”. He was in his early fifties. It was very sad.
Two cures have recently been found in animal testing: niacinimide, and coffee.
I would like to see all that money wasted with the bailouts and so-called stimulus be used to find cures for disease.
“Two cures have recently been found in animal testing: niacinimide, and coffee.”
Correction, that was niacinamide
“Wow, 57 is *very* young to be diagnosed with Alzheimers.”
***
Actually, it is common for people in their 40’s to be diagnosed with Alzheimers. There are some victims who are lot younger.
ALL our public servants ought to be as selfless as this woman, and respectful of their positions of trust...
What heartbreaking news for her & those who love her.
This prompted me to search online for some information, and I found this:
10 warning signs of Alzheimer's: http://www.alzinfo.org/top-alzheimers-symptoms.asp
1. Memory loss.
Forgetting recently learned information is one of the most common early signs of dementia. A person begins to forget more often and is unable to recall the information later.
2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks.
People with dementia often find it hard to plan or complete everyday tasks. Individuals may lose track of the steps involved in preparing a meal, placing a telephone call or playing a game.
3. Problems with language.
People with Alzheimer’s disease often forget simple words or substitute unusual words, making their speech or writing hard to understand. They may be unable to find the toothbrush, for example, and instead ask for "that thing for my mouth.
4. Disorientation to time and place.
People with Alzheimer’s disease can become lost in their own neighborhood, forget where they are and how they got there, and not know how to get back home.
5. Poor or decreased judgment.
Those with Alzheimer’s may dress inappropriately, wearing several layers on a warm day or little clothing in the cold. They may show poor judgment, like giving away large sums of money to telemarketers.
6. Problems with abstract thinking.
Someone with Alzheimer’s disease may have unusual difficulty performing complex mental tasks, like forgetting what numbers are for and how they should be used.
7. Misplacing things.
A person with Alzheimer’s disease may put things in unusual places: an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl.
8. Changes in mood or behavior.
Someone with Alzheimer’s disease may show rapid mood swings – from calm to tears to anger – for no apparent reason.
9. Changes in personality.
The personalities of people with dementia can change dramatically. They may become extremely confused, suspicious, fearful or dependent on a family member.
I would agree.
Although AIDS is a terrible disease, aside from those who get it through blood transfusions or from someone whom they trusted, the most likely ways to get it and the steps to prevent catching it (safe sex, not sharing needles, etc.) are well known and relatively easily done.
Alzheimer's on the other hand currently has no known prevention, and no known effective long term treatment.
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