Diane Sykes for Next Supreme Court Justice

legal affairs . org ^ | 09/30/2005 | milwguy

[milwguy]

. You were nominated for the Seventh Circuit by President Bush after being recommended, along with three others, by a bipartisan commission. Wisconsin Senators Herb Kohl (D) and Russell Feingold (D), and Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R), who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, forwarded all four names recommended by the commission to the White House. Such a process is somewhat unusual, but your nomination was not bogged down by a threat of filibuster in the Senate, and while your confirmation was not unanimous, Senators Kohl and Feingold voted in favor of your confirmation. Could you please tell us more about how this process worked and your thoughts about it?

For the most part the process was straightforward and noncontroversial. The bipartisan commission process involved a detailed written application and then an interview with the commission. Senators Kohl and Feingold then interviewed each of the finalists and indicated their support for all four of us. The fact that my nomination was produced by a bipartisan commission and had the support of Wisconsin's senators, both Democrats, seemed to reduce the political and partisan controversy that has characterized the judicial confirmation process.

14. How did your Senate Judiciary Committee Hearings go? How did they compare with your expectations in terms of contentiousness?

My confirmation hearing was nonconfrontational and relatively brief. I was on a panel with two noncontroversial district court nominees, Juan Sanchez from Pennsylvania and James Robart from Washington, and the hearing for all three of us lasted about forty-five minutes. I was pleased that it did not become contentious, as others have been

[milwguy]

My endorsement of a fellow Badger for next Justice of the Supreme Court. This pick by Pres. Bush would be a wise move in my opinion. I enumerate the reasons below. 1. Diane Sykes is a solid conservative, member of Federalist Society, etc. 2. Diane Sykes is young (48), attractive, and smart. 3. Dinae Sykes was appointed to the Federal Bench as a result of the time honored tradition of letting the home state senators (Kohl and Feingold) have a large say in who they would accept for the post. 4> Kohl and Feingold both helped move her nomination through the Judiciary Cmte. (on which they both serve) and full Senate, in a process which went very smoothly compared to most of Bush's nominations. 5. Kohl and Feingold would be very hard pressed to oppose her now because they were such an integral part of her getting on the federal bench. 6. Kohl and Feingold deserve to be put on the spot because the reason they wanted her on the Federal Bench was to get her off the Wisconsin State Supreme Court so the newly elected Democratic Governor Doyle could appoint the liberal hack Louis Butler to replace her, (this has resulted in two terrible decisions, one on lead paint liability and the other on medical malpractice)thus shifting the balance on the State Supreme Court from conservative to liberal. 7. A Sykes nomination would please conservatives, fence in two very important Democratic members of the Judiciary Cmte. (Kohl and Feingold), allow Bush to replace a woman with a woman, thus maintaining the 'diversity' liberals are clamoring for, and finally make it very likely the Dems would be unable to use their fillibuster option, much to the chagrin of groups like 'People for the American Way'. Are you listening Karl Rove? This choice would add to your reputation as the "Evil Genius"

[frogjerk]

Diane Sykes

[WIladyconservative]

Is this Charlie Sykes' ex-wife?

[frogjerk]

Is she pro-life - anti Roe v. Wade?

[kjam22]

Was that picture taken in 1958?

[frogjerk]

Is this Charlie Sykes' ex-wife?

Who is Charlie Sykes?

[frogjerk]

A More recent picture

[brewcrew]

That is absolutely, positively Charlie's ex.

[frogjerk]

That is absolutely, positively Charlie's ex.

So she's divorced? Not good...

[JimDingle]

He is a local conservative radio talk show host on WTMJ in the Milwaukee area.

[WIladyconservative]

The National Abortion Federation opposed her nomination to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Here

[JimDingle]

I think they got divorced because she was in Madison and he was in Milwaukee and you know what they say about long distance relationships

[Stand Watch Listen]

FYI...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1485745/posts….Profile of Judge Diane Sykes, one of the youngest potential Bush nominees to the Supreme Court

[WIladyconservative]

Thank you Jim - was just getting around to answer that.

[frogjerk]

Would BUSH nominate a divorcee to the Supreme Court? I think it would anger his base. Another question: Does she have children?

[JimDingle]

I know they have one son, but am unsure about any other children.

[mrs tiggywinkle]

It's a black and white professional picture.

[WIladyconservative]

Was that picture taken in 1958?

Since she was born in 1957, I doubt it.

[WIladyconservative]

Two boys, I think - about 11 and 13.

And wouldn't it be cool to have another Milwaukee area native back on the Supreme Court? Rehnquist passes and Diane moves in . . . .

[kjam22]

It's a black and white professional picture.

:)... yeah... and an old one at that.