[dirtboy]

You mean the same Judge Robertson who turned aside Webb Hubbell's legal troubles? Or was part of a cabal of Clinton appointees who circumvented normal procedure for assigning cases?

Later, zot-bait.

[Wasanother]

Bah-Bye!

[edcoil]

Every President since the law was enacted has used it and now this judge quits? Anyone sense political stunt here as well.

[DJ Taylor]

"I believe the Congress — as a coequal branch of government — must immediately and expeditiously review the use of this practice," said Sen. Olympia Snowe (news, bio, voting record), R-Maine."

I happen to agree with the following:

"What we really have here is a perfect illustration of why America's Founders gave the executive branch the largest measure of Constitutional authority on national security. They recognized that a committee of 535 talking heads couldn't be trusted with such grave responsibility. There is no evidence that these wiretaps violate the law. But there is lots of evidence that the Senators are 'illegally' usurping Presidential power -- and endangering the country in the process."

- Review & Outlook, Wall Street Journal, 12/20/05

[rhombus]

U.S. District Judge James Robertson would not comment Wednesday on his resignation, but The Washington Post reported that it stemmed from deep concern that the surveillance program Bush authorized was legally questionable and may have tainted the work of the court. The Post quoted two associates of the judge.

Let's hear it from the Juge himself instead of unnamed "associates". Will the Judge be appearing on the usual liberal talk show circuit?

[darkwing104]

Sounds like Clinton Appointee Judge Jimbob didn't get his way...so he quits...

[ncountylee]

Any time a Clintonista judge resigns it's a good day.

[Dallas59]

[eureka!]

What a transparent stunt by an ethically challenged political hack in a black robe. Some judicial temperment. Not. Doesn't even have the courage to say anything. Instead, "associates" feed the Compost some agitprop for the latest bash Bushfest. I only wish he'd leave the bench entirely. That said, welcome to FR smithone. Merry Christmas. May the New Year result in the further destruction of the MSM and Rat party....

[guido911]

I heard about this. Another victory in the war on terror.

[Paloma_55]

I sure hope the screen door doesn't hit him in the a55....

[Just mythoughts]

Liberals only resign when forced to, so what is the real reason why this guy pulled up his stakes?

[horse_doc]

I think that Ted Kennedy should resign in protest, too. In fact, EVERY Democrat in government should resign in protest.

That'll teach us . . .

[horse_doc]

I think that Ted Kennedy should resign in protest, too. In fact, EVERY Democrat in government should resign in protest.

That'll teach us . . .

[Moonman62]

Robertson was appointed a federal judge by President Clinton in 1994. Chief Justice William Rehnquist later appointed Robertson to the FISA court as well.

Robertson has been critical of the Bush administration's treatment of detainees at the U.S. naval prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, most memorably in a decision that sidetracked the president's system of military tribunals to put some detainees on trial.

It took the AP long enough to get to the important facts, but I'm also surprised they were mentioned at all.

[Kay]

Could this judge be the LEAKER and he is purposely resigning now so that he keeps his pension???

Also, if he is the leaker, this act of resignation affords him protection from the media because they will see it as going after the whistle-blower.

[theDentist]

The court "oversees government applications for secret surveillance or searches of foreigners and U.S. citizens suspected of terrorism or espionage."

They have been eavesdropping on international calls between U.S. Citizens and phones of Al Qaeda or suspected Al Qaeda contacts. Seems to fall right into the purvue of their job. So he must be resigning primarily because he's a liberal girly-man.

[BlessedByLiberty]

Wonder if the old Judge decided to resign in protest because he heard the Justice Department might just be looking at who leaked valuable classified operations to the New York Traitorous-Times?

Interesting that anyone either implicated, mentioned or are under investigation attack President Bush so that when the misdeeds hit the MSM arm of the DNC will call it "Bush retaliation for criticizing the Administration."

[plain talk]

I think all liberal judges in this country should resign in protest. :-)

[leftcoaster]

Help me out here.

The FISA was/is supposedly a "secret" court.

But we now know the name and other details of one of the judges who composed the "secret" court, so his involvement, at least, is no longer a secret.

So who "outed" him? Was it illegal?