6th Circuit to grow more conservative

AP ^ | 6/24/5 | TERRY KINNEY

[SmithL]

CINCINNATI (AP) - Senate confirmation of two judges nominated by President Bush to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals probably will give a conservative bent to what had been a balanced court, experts say.

The court hears appeals of federal cases in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee. It has been understaffed for years with six Republicans and six Democrats because of an impasse in the Senate. Michigan's senators were upset at Republicans for refusing to confirm President Clinton's nominees to the court.

A compromise this month allowed the confirmation of David McKeague, 58, a federal judge in Michigan since 1992, and Richard Griffin, 53, a judge on Michigan's Court of Appeals since 1988. Both have been criticized by liberal groups.

"Presumably, they would not have been nominated by President Bush if they did not share his judicial views," said Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, a conservative, Washington-based judicial watchdog.

But any change in the dominant philosophy of the court likely will be subtle because the 6th Circuit generally has been considered to be moderate, not liberal, Fitton said.

Marianna Bettman, a College of Law professor at the University of Cincinnati, disagrees.

"The 6th Circuit had a reputation as one of the great civil rights courts," she said. "Those days are gone. There's no question it's become far more conservative, and will become more so."

[SmithL]

No bias here.

[A Balrog of Morgoth]

Marianna Bettman, a College of Law professor at the University of Cincinnati, disagrees.

Marianna, STFU and sit down.

[California Patriot]

"a conservative bent to a balanced court."
Translation: will bring balance to a liberal court.

" 'one of the great civil rights courts' "
Translation: was a hotbed of judicial tyranny.

[untrained skeptic]

"The 6th Circuit had a reputation as one of the great civil rights courts," she said. "Those days are gone. There's no question it's become far more conservative, and will become more so."

Liberals are hardly strong proponents of civil rights, as we can see from the recent supreme court rulings.

We need judges that uphold the constitution, and it's those judges that the liberals oppose. They oppose them because they would limit the power of the government to the powers granted by the constitution.

[Right_at_RiceU]

I love how to the MSM liberal is balanced and balanced is conservative.

[winner3000]

"The 6th Circuit had a reputation as one of the great civil rights courts," she said. "Those days are gone. There's no question it's become far more conservative, and will become more so."


Hey, lady, why don't you have the guts to say that all conservatives are racists instead of using the code words "civil rights" as pro-black? Melissa, you ignorent slut! (great SNL quote!)

[lepton]

Michigan's senators were upset at Republicans for refusing to confirm President Clinton's nominees to the court.

I've heard this charge a few times. Was this when he was deliberately nominating screwballs? ...Or was this at the end when he was trying to stuff people into permanent positions willy-nilly all over the government?

[funkywbr]

A conservative bent?

Sounds good to me!~}

[Abram]

Yeah, it is not like the 9th Ninth Circuit is a "balanced" court by any means. One of the powers of an elected President is to nominate and have confirmed by the Senate their choices for the Federal Judiciary. Carter, Clinton and to some extent, Bush Sr. nominated liberals to the bench. Ford, Nixon, Reagan and now GW have nominated conservatives. Nothing to see here...all I say is thank goodness, with the many issues I have with this President, that he has the people surrounding him that espouse many of the conservative values that I have.

Thank the Lord for President Bush. Keep nominating conservative Judges. Hopefully we can nominate real conservatives for Rehnquist, O'Connor, Stevens and any other justices that may retire during Bush's term. Hopefully Ginsberg will retire too (she has suffered from cancer of late...I wish her well, but I can't stand her liberal bent). Maybe Souter will retire too...please, please please...!

[funkywbr]

I notice the WH mouth piece has asked US to respect the end of the 5th ammendment as we know it.

You know what, they can Kiss my big fat arse!

And I also notice how on and since the day of that most whacked of decisions the market has been falling like a rock.

Oh the ever so mighty so called analysts can blame it on oil but they aint fooling me.