Posted on 08/16/2018 9:56:53 AM PDT by Jaysin
The U.S. Senate on Thursday confirmed the first of two South Carolina judges picked for the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, giving federal Judge Marvin Quattlebaum of Greenville a lifetime appointment in the key appellate post.
The Senate is also expected later this week to confirm Julius Jay Richardson, a deputy criminal chief of the U.S. Attorneys Office in Columbia, to another open post on the same appeals court.
Quattlebaum has swiftly risen the judicial ranks during the Trump administration. He earned a spot on the U.S. District Court of South Carolina just a few months ago.
That confirmation came despite opposition from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who argued that a white man should not replace African-American nominees put forward during Barack Obamas administration a contention that drew scathing rebukes from South Carolina Republicans.
Ive known Chuck Schumer for years, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said at the time. He is not a racist, but this was an absolutely shameful reason to vote against a very qualified nominee like Marvin Quattlebaum.
On Thursday, Graham described Quattlebaum as a very sound conservative judge who is incredibly fair-minded, and Richardson as one of the great legal minds of our time.
The Senate voted 62 to 28 to confirm Quattlebaum.
Richardson, 41, earned plaudits in South Carolina as the lead prosecutor in the Dylann Roof trial, where he successfully argued that Roof should receive the death penalty for murdering nine worshipers at Charlestons Emanuel AME Church in 2015.
A Barnwell native, Richardson clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist and 7th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Richard A. Posner.
His nomination received support from both Republicans and Democrats in South Carolina, with state Sen. Gerald Malloy, D-Hartsville, describing him as an excellent choice.
In a Senate floor speech Thursday morning before the confirmation votes, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., called both South Carolina judges well-qualified and impressive nominees.
McConnell cited a letter the Judiciary Committee received from Jennifer Pinckney, widow of the late state Sen. Clementa Pinckney, who was killed in the Emanuel AME shooting, supporting Richardsons nomination and saying he will make a fine jurist.
While the Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh has garnered much of the headlines, President Donald Trump has left a significant imprint on the consequential appellate courts in the year and a half since he took office.
Quattlebaum became the 25th appeals judge confirmed during the Trump administration, and Richardsons pending confirmation would make 26 more than any presidents first two years in office.
another 4th circuit should be confirmed tomorrow, Julius Richardson.
Ive known Chuck Schumer for years, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said at the time. He is not a racist, but this was an absolutely shameful reason to vote against a very qualified nominee like Marvin Quattlebaum.
Senator Graham, Chuck Schumer would not grant you the same with regard to your motivations.
There are two things wrong here. Both of these guys are way, way past their 'use by' date.
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“Quattlebaum became the 25th appeals judge confirmed during the Trump administration, and Richardsons pending confirmation would make 26 more than any presidents first two years in office.”
Given this, plus 2 Originalist Supreme Court nominees, I’m at a loss as to what so-called “conservatives” have against Trump. Would Shitlary have been better?
The anti-Trumper’s are phonies, who would have loved to have Hillary in power.
Excellent. Obama made 55 appointments to the Circuit Court in 8 years. Trump is almost halfway toward countering that in less than 2 years. We’ve got a ways to go to counteract the damage Obama did but every Circuit Court judge appointed is another small step in the right direction.
Hmm, is that Richardson guy acceptable? It gives me a bad vibe when anyone is praised by a Democrat.
I think he’s acceptable. He’s a member of the federalist society and the dems are probably praising him since he prosecuted Dylan Roof, the Charleston church shooter.
“The anti-Trumpers are phonies, who would have loved to have Hillary in power.”
THEY, and their overbearing arrogance, created Trump. I laugh in their face - THEY woke us up, THEY created their own competition and THEY have set up their own downfall. [Oh, and speaking of “Downfall,” I’d LOVE to see a “Hitler Rants” piece on this - it would be priceless].
Ah, thanks.
Interesting surname. Means “Quail Tree”.
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