Judicial Confirmation Blog




	Welcome to the RNLA's new Blog on the Judicial Confirmation Crisis. This site is the latest in the RNLA's continuing effort to ensure a fair up or down vote on the President's judicial nominees and to spread the word on the Democrats' unprecedented obstruction of the confirmation process. RNLA Members are encouraged to log in to the Members Only Section of our website and add comments and articles on the Judicial Nominations Bulletin Board. Sections on this page: Judge Samuel A. Alito Post-confirmation Justice Alito News Judge Alito in the News (Pre-Confirmation) The RNLA and Judge Alito Senate Judiciary Hearings Bi-Partisan Support for Judge Alito Supreme Court Watch Judge John G. Roberts "The Deal" Private Property Under Attack: Kelo v. City of New London Circuit Court Nominees Still Awaiting a Vote The RNLA is hosting a luncheon with Maryland Lt. Governor Michael S. Steele on February 21, 2006. Lt. Gov. Steele is running for U.S. Senate in Maryland for the seat being vacated by retiring Senator Sarbanes. Senator Sarbanes was one of the worst Senators relating to voting against President Bush's judicial nominees. The experts agree that for the first time in years Republicans have a realistic shot at winning this hotly contested Senate seat. Such a victory could have a real impact for the better on judicial nominations. Details for the luncheon are available here. Judge Samuel A. Alito Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. has been confirmed by the Senate by a vote of 58 to 42! We congratulate Justice Alito for this well deserved confirmation to our nation’s highest court. Republican and Democrat Senators who voted in favor of this eminently qualified nominee should be praised for voting to confirm Justice Alito and for treating Justice Alito in a dignified, respectful manner according to the longstanding tradition of the Senate. For the RNLA's statement on Judge Alito's confirmation click here. - Posted 1-31-06 The Senate has voted by a vote of 72-25 to end debate on Samuel Alito's Supreme Court nomination. For a breakdown of the Senate vote click here. - Posted 1/30/06 The Senate Judiciary Committee voted favorably to recommend Judge Alito to the Senate on January 24, 2006 by a 10 to 8 party line vote. The complete transcript of the Judiciary Committee Members' final statements made prior to the vote is availabe here. Talking points refuting the many inaccurate statements made by Senate Democrats in the Judiciary Committee vote are available here. Judge Samuel Alito gave written answers to follow-up questions from Senators after his confirmation hearing. A copy of his responses are available here. The American Bar Association (ABA) has given Judge Sam Alito a unanimous "well-qualified" rating. Read the AP article at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/04/AR2006010400863.html. - Posted 1/4/06 A copy of the ABA's letter to the Senate is available here. Background information on Judge Alito is available here - Posted 10/31/05 For a biography of Judge Alito click here. - Posted 10/31/05 More background from before he was formally named is available here. - Posted 10/31/05 View the official transcript of the President's announcement of his nomination of Judge Samuel A. Alito, Jr. to the Supreme Court here. Video of the President's announcement is available at http://www.shadowtv.com/redirect/notification.jsp?vid=a3a84af9ba346d1a436418b801e85254. - Posted 10/31/05 Post-confirmation Justice Alito News The President's remarks at the Swearing-In Ceremony are available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/02/20060201-4.html. - Posted 2/2/06 RNLA Member Curt Levey writes that Democrats will bear the cost of voting against Justice Alito at the polls this November at http://www.townhall.com/opinion/columns/CurtA.Levey/2006/01/31/184523.html. - Posted 2/1/06 Ed Whelan writes that Senators Kerry and Kennedy did the Republicans a favor by forcing a cloture vote in the Justice Alito confirmation battle and depriving the Left of a pretend-filibuster argument at http://bench.nationalreview.com/archives/088718.asp. - Posted 2/1/06 President Bush, in his State of the Union Address, stated: "A hopeful society depends on courts that deliver equal justice under the law. The Supreme Court now has two superb new members -- new members on its bench: Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Sam Alito. (Applause.) I thank the Senate for confirming both of them. I will continue to nominate men and women who understand that judges must be servants of the law, and not legislate from the bench. (Applause.)" Sam Alito was sworn in as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court on January 31, 2006 at http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=1561890. - Posted 1/31/06 President Bush declared after Justice Alito was confirmed by the Senate that "he will make all Americans proud as a Justice on our highest court." View the full statement here. - Posted 1/31/06 Judge Alito in the News (Pre-Confirmation) Senator Frist gave an excellent speech regarding the Democrats' attempts to filibuster Judge Alito's nomination. A copy of his remarks is available here. - Posted 1/31/06 Senator Conrad (D-ND) has become the fourth Democrat to announce that he will vote in favor of Judge Alito’s confirmation. View his statement here. - Posted 1/30/06 Sen. Obama criticized Democrats for relying too much on filibuster and procedural tactics at http://washingtontimes.com/national/20060130-123151-5630r.htm. - Posted 1/30/06 President Bush quoted Sen. Byrd's statements in support of Judge Alito and declared, "The Senate has a constitutional responsibility to hold an up-or-down vote on Judge Alito's nomination" at http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=axyn53Bp9F2Y&refer=top_world_news. - Posted 1/28/06 Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) has announced that he is leaning in favor of voting for Judge Alito at http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20060127-0825-alito.html. - Posted 1/27/06 Senator Kerry has attempted to launch a filibuster against Judge Alito. Read CNN's report at http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/01/26/alito/. - Posted 1/26/06 The RNC issued a statement responding to Senator Kerry’s filibuster attempt stating “To even suggest a filibuster against a nominee as qualified as Judge Alito reflects a philosophy so out of touch that it’s bordering on reckless.” View the RNC’s response here. - Posted 1/26/06 Senator Kerry is making a fool of himself with his call for a filibuster, even the New York Times agrees here. - Posted 1/27/06 Senator Reid has engaged in a flip flop on his filibuster position and has shown that he is playing politics on this nomination. View the RNC's response to Senator Reid here. - Posted 1/27/06 Senator Frist's office replies to Senator Reid's flip flop here. - Posted 1/27/06 Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) has announced his support for Judge Alito. We commend Senator Byrd for this decision. Three Democrats have now shown their independence from the Party line and announced their support of Judge Alito, namely Senator Nelson (D-NE), Senator Johnson (D-SD), and Senator Byrd. Read the AP story at http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=1545105. Leahy vs. Leahy: On Wednesday, Jan. 25 Senator Leahy accused Senator Hatch of misquoting him on the Senate floor. The Congressional records shows that Sen. Hatch was, in fact, accurate and that Senator Leahy made the statement in question not once, but twice. View the excerpts of the comments in question here. - Posted 1/26/06 Democrat Senator Johnson of South Dakota has announced he will vote for Judge Alito, full story is at here. - Posted 1/26/06 President Bush's statement at a White House event with Judge Alito's clerks is available at here. - Posted 1/26/06 Byron York writes that Democrat Senators are planning a non-filibuster filibuster to obstruct the vote on Judge Alito's nomination at http://www.nationalreview.com/york/york.asp. - Posted 1/25/06 John Fund writes that Democrats are creating an "Alito Precedent" of opposing nominees for purely political reasons and warns that this will likely come back to haunt them. View the article here. - Posted 1/25/06 Republican Senators held a press conference on Jan. 24, 2006 discussing Judge Alito's nomination. View the transcript here. - Posted 1/25/06 A collection of quotes from judges on the Third Circuit who have worked with Judge Alito is available here. - Posted 1/24/06 Dan Gerstein of Opinion Journal points out how out of touch left-wing bloggers' coverage of the hearings was. http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110007849. - Posted 1/23/06 Senator George Allen (R-VA) responds forcefully to Senator Chuck Schumer's (D-NY) suggestion that a filibuster is still on the table. http://www.washtimes.com/national/20060123-122635-6229r.htm. - Posted 1/23/06 The New York Times continues to distort facts in its formal opposition to Judge Alito's nomination, calling his views "radical" and "biased". http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/23/opinion/23mon1.html?hp&oref=login. - Posted 1/23/06 Senator Jim Demint (R-SC) writes in his hometown Charleston Courier that a vote for Judge Alito in the Senate is a vote for the rule of law. http://www.charleston.net/stories/?newsID=66800§ion=editorials. - Posted 1/23/06 Michael Goodwin writes in the New York Daily News about the "puppeteers" that control the Democratic party's opposition to Judge Alito. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/col/story/384625p-326454c.html. - Posted 1/23/06 The RNLA and Judge Alito RNLA Member Curt Levey writes that Democrats will bear the cost of voting against Justice Alito at the polls this November at http://www.townhall.com/opinion/columns/CurtA.Levey/2006/01/31/184523.html. - Posted 2/1/06 RNLA Calls for Democrats to follow Reid and Byrd and Ignore Kerry's Call for a Filibuster in a media advisory entitled The Framers' Vision vs. Filibustering for the 2008 Campaign. - Posted 1/27/06 Don Daugherty, Chair of the Wisconsin RNLA Chapter, was recently quoted in the Marquette Tribune defending Judge Alito at http://www.marquettetribune.org/336962619951309.bsp. - Posted 1/26/06 People for the Alito Way released a press release on January 24, 2006 quoting supporters of Judge Alito including RNLA's Patricia Paoletta here. - Posted 1/25/06 The RNLA issued a press release following the Senate Judiciary Committee's Party Line vote for Judge Alito's nomination. The release is available here. - Posted 1/24/06 RNLA Member Timothy Houseal is quoted in an article discussing Senator Biden and the Judge Alito hearings here. - Posted 1/12/06 About 100 leading lawyers, judges and law professors from across the country have signed a letter to Chairman Specter in support of Judge Alito’s Supreme Court nomination. A copy of the press release announcing the letter is available here. - Posted 1/11/06 A copy of the letter is available here. A bi-partisan group of Wisconsin lawyers have also signed a letter to Senators Feinghold and Kohl in support of Judge Alito. A copy of the press release is available here. - Posted 1/11/06 A copy of the letter is available here. RNLA Member John Vecchione writes an interesting article about the current climate for confirmation hearings at http://www.realclearpolitics.com/blog/2006/01/why_alito_is_less_vulnerable_t.html. - Posted 1/10/06 RNLA Member Timothy Houseal participated in a forum in Delaware discussing Judge Alito's nomination. View the article at here. - Posted 1/9/06 Patricia Paoletta, RNLA's Vice President for Communications, participated in a press conference hosted by Concerned Women for America on January 5, 2006. View the RNLA's press release here. - Posted 1/5/06 View the RNLA's Press Release responding to the left's attack ad that mischaracterized the record of Judge Alito here. - Posted 11/17/05 View the RNLA's Press Release on the Nomination here. View the RNLA's endorsement statement here. Chair of the Alabama RNLA Chapter Will Sellers stated "Judge Alito has distinguished himself as a jurist committed to the rule of law and the integrity of the U.S. Constitution. He is exceptionally well-qualified to serve on the United States Supreme Court." View the press release here. - Posted 11/2/05 RNLA Member Thor Hearne appeared and did an excellent job on the Eric Von Wade Show on November 15th discussing Judge Alito's statement regarding abortion on his 1985 application and his decision in Planned Parenthood v. Casey. Listen to the audio using the links below (MP3 player required to listen). Thor Hearne Part I Thor Hearne Part II RNLA Member Manuel Miranda participated in a discussion on Monday, Nov. 28 hosted by Judicial Watch in which he stated that "Ultimately it’s the nominee himself who will have the greatest influence because, after all the rhetoric ... Samuel Alito will come across as the man and nominee and judge that he is—brilliant, careful, polished and very, very experienced in the decisions that he’s made." View the article at http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=10490. - Posted 11/29/05 Chair of RNLA's Wisconsin Chapter, Don Daugherty, discusses the battle that's beginning to take shape in Wisconsin over Alito. View the article here. - Posted 12/5/05 Senate Judiciary Hearings Hearing - Day 5* Senate Democrats have incdicated that they will seek to delay the Senate Judiciary Committee vote for one week. Read articles about their delaying tactic at http://www.forbes.com/business/commerce/feeds/ap/2006/01/13/ap2448547.html and at http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aX0awlqi3bO0&refer=us. Chairman Specter has announced his support for Judge Alito. Read Fox News' report on the last day of the hearings at http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,181544,00.html. View a copy of the transcript from Senator Specter's press conference he held after the Hearings here. Hearing - Day 4* A copy of the transcript of the witness testimonies on Day 4 is available here A complete transcript of the final round of questioning of Judge Alito is available here. A complete response to Democrat Senators' inaccurate statements made during day 4 of the hearings is available here. A breakdown of Judge Alito's answers on Day 4 of the hearings is available here. For talking points on Senator Kennedy's hypocrisy in attacking Judge Alito on his ethics click here. Senator Grassley declared that the Democrats' pattern of repeating questions again and again was like beating a dead horse at http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060112/NEWS09/601120386/1056. Hearing - Day 3* A complete response to Democrat Senators' inaccurate statements made during day 3 of the hearings is available here. A complete transcript of the day's hearing is available here. A breakdown of Judge Alito's answers on Day 3 of the hearings is available here. In a show of desperation Senator Kennedy engaged in a heated argument with Chairman Specter over a request to subpoena irrelevant documents related to Concerned Alumni of Princeton (CAP). This is in spite of Judge Alito's candid answers to Senator Kennedy in which he explicitly disavowed any knowledge of or adherence to the controversial positions taken by some in the organization. A transcript of the discussion is availabe here. (The exchange between Senators Kennedy and Specter are highlighted in yellow.) In searching the records related to CAP no indications of Judge Alito's involvement have been found. The AP report is available at here. Talking points on CAP are availabe here. For the RNC's response to Senator Kennedy click here. Senator Frist's response to Senator Kennedy is available here. A copy of Senator Kennedy's Dec. 22nd letter that he referenced is available here. Manny Miranda, who heads the Third Branch Conference, issued a statement in response to Senator Kennedy here. The Washington Post discusses the Kennedy-Specter exchange at http://blogs.washingtonpost.com/campaignforthecourt/2006/01/kennedy_and_spe.html. The AP reports that Judge Alito's wife left the hearing room in tears during Sen. Graham's apology for how the Judge had been treated in the hearings at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/11/AR2006011101802.html. Hearing - Day 2* A breakdown of Judge Alito's answers on Day 2 of the hearings is available here. Transcripts of Senators' questions and Judge Alito's answers are available below: Chairman Specter's questioning Senator Leahy's questioning For a fact check response to Senator Leahy click here. Senator Hatch's questioning Senator Kennedy's questioning - Note: Senator Kennedy refers in his questioning on the Vanguard case to RNLA Member Professor Ronald Rotunda. For a fact check response to Senator Kennedy click here. Senator Grassley's questioning Senator Biden's questioning For a fact check response to Senator Biden click here. Senator Kyl's questioning Senator Kohl's questioning For a fact check response to Senator Kohl click here. Senator DeWine's questioning (Transcript is unavailable at this time.) Senator Feinstein's questioning For a fact check response to Senator Feinstein click here. Senator Sessions' questioning Senator Feingold's questioning For a fact check response to Senator Feingold click here. Senator Graham's questioning Senator Schumer's questioning For a fact check response to Senator Schumer click here. Senator Cornyn's questioning Senators, even Democrats, have been impressed with Judge Alito's responses on day 2 of the hearing. Senator Specter: “I think Judge Alito went farther than Chief Justice Roberts did.” Senator Biden : "I appreciate [Judge Alito] being responsive.” Senator Leahy: “You strike me as a very cautious and careful person. And I say that with admiration, because a judge should be that.” Senator Biden: “I don’t think anybody thinks you are a man lacking in integrity. I don’t think anybody thinks that you are a person who’s not independent.” Senator Biden: “The people I’ve spoken to on your court – and it’s my circuit – have a very high regard for you. And I think you’re a man of integrity.” Senator Durbin: “I think it's been interesting. I think he's made a good presentation . . . ” Hearing - Day 1* A copy of Judge Alito's opening statement is available here. - Posted 1/6/06 Opening Statements made by Senate Judiciary Committee Members are available below (listed in the order of Appearance): Chairman Specter (R-PA) Senator Leahy (D-VT) A fact check response is available here. Senator Hatch (R-UT) Senator Kennedy (D-MA) A fact check response is available here. Senator Grassley (R-IA) Senator Biden (D-DE) Senator Kyl (R-AZ) Senator Kohl (D-WI) A fact check response is available here. Senator DeWine (R-OH) Senator Feinstein (D-CA) A fact check response is available here. Senator Sessions (R-AL) Senator Feingold (D-WI) A fact check response is available here. Senator Graham (R-SC) Senator Schumer (D-NY) A fact check response is available here. Senator Cornyn (R-TX) Senator Durbin (D-IL) A fact check response is available here. Senator Brownback (R-KS) Senator Coburn (R-OK) For a list of the most outrageous comments made by Democrats in their opening statements as well as rebuttals to their points click here. - Posted 1/9/06 Talking Points discussing many of the issues the Democrats are likely to attack Judge Alito on are available here. - Posted 1/9/06 Stephen Dujack has been dropped from the Democrats' witness list. Dujack was expected to attack Judge Alito for an article written by someone else that Judge Alito had no connection with. Details are available at http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/archives/2005/12/16/news/14189.shtml. - Posted 1/9/06 Senate Democrats have vowed to delay the Judiciary Committee's vote on Judge Alito's nomination. Read the AP story at http://www.forbes.com/entrepreneurs/feeds/ap/2006/01/05/ap2431004.html. - Posted 1/5/06 Not since 1971 with Rehnquist has a nominee been held over. This delay comes despite an agreement that Chairman Specter reached with Senator Leahy that the Committee vote would occur on January 17 unless there were extraordinary circumstances. However, there are no extraordinary circumstances. The agreement was announced at a press conference on November 3, 2005. see the excerpt below: "QUESTION: Sen. Specter, will Senators still be able to hold over the nominee in committee once the confirmation hearings are over? Specter: The Answer-the answer is that after conferring with all our colleagues, Sen. Leahy and I have proposed what we call a good faith intention to have the executive committee meet on the 17th and to vote on that day. Leahy: As you'll recall Mr. Owen, we had the same thing with the Roberts case. We dealt not with some kind of unanimous consent, but with two senior members of the Senate having commitments. And I think on my side, we'd expect that-obviously this leaves room if something extraordinary comes up that neither, frankly neither Sen. Specter nor I anticipate or expect.” Judge Alito completed a detailed questionnaire given by the Senate Judiciary Committee. A complete copy of his responses are available below: Questionnaire Appendix 1 Appendix 2 Appendix 3 Appendix 4 - We give special thanks to the RNC for the fact check responses and other talking points. Bi-Partisan Support for Judge Alito Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) stated “’So far I have seen nothing ... that I would consider a disqualifying issue,’ Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., said in a statement.” – Kathy Kiely, USA Today, 1/13/06. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has announced their endorsement for Judge Alito's nomination at http://www.uschamber.com/press/releases/2006/january/06-01.htm. - Posted 1/6/06 The American Bar Association (ABA) has given Judge Sam Alito a unanimous "well-qualified" rating. Read the AP article at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/04/AR2006010400863.html. - Posted 1/4/06 The New York City Bar Association has declared Judge Sam Alito Qualified for the U.S. Supreme Court at http://www.nycbar.org/PressRoom/PressRelease/2005_1213.htm. - Posted 12/23/05 The National Association of Manufacturers announced on December 13, 2005 that it backs Judge Alito's nomination. View their press release at http://www.nam.org/s_nam/doc1.asp?CID=14&DID=235926. - Posted 12/13/05 A collection of quotes from pro-choice legal experts, including Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Alan Dershowitz, criticizing Roe v. Wade is available at http://www.timothypcarney.com/?page_id=176. - Posted 11/15/05 Former law clerks of Judge Alito from both parties together signed a letter calling for the Senate to support Alito's nomination. View the letter here. - Posted 11/14/05 Editorials, Law Professors, Scholars, and colleagues continue to praise Judge Alito. View a summary of the praise here and here. - Posted 11/7/05 A LA Times article details how a number of liberal-leaning judges and ex-clerks say they support his elevation to the Supreme Court here. - Posted 11/2/05 "He is not result-oriented. He is an honest conservative judge who believes in judicial restraint and judicial deference." - Former federal Third Circuit Judge Timothy K. Lewis, with a seven year liberal record. (LA Times, 11/02/05)* "Judge Alito appears to be a competent lawyer and an expert judge." - Former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo (New York Sun, 11/2/05). "He's a first-class intellect, a decent human being, and a mensch. He's brilliant, he's fair, and very open-minded. I've never known him to have an agenda, and he decides every case on the merits, the facts, and the law. He doesn't decide any more than he has to - doesn't reach out for issues, and that's good. He's just a good, solid legal scholar who writes well and clearly, a real good judge." - Judge Edward Becker, the liberal former chief judge for the Philadelphia based 3rd Circuit Court (New York Sun, 11/1/05). "I think you look at the totality of his career and what you see is a judge squarely within the mainstream. He's hired liberals, conservatives, libertarians, independents. And all I know is that we're all unanimously supporting the judge for his -- in his nomination." - Jeffrey Wasserstein, former law clerk for Judge Alito now practicing law in Washington, self-described liberal Democrat (CNN, 11/2/05) "He was not, in my personal experience, an ideologue. He pays attention to the facts of cases and applies the law in a careful way." - Kate Pringle, a former clerk for Alito and now a New York lawyer who worked last year on Sen. John F. Kerry's presidential campaign (LA Times, 11/2/05) "Sam is very smart, and he is unquestionably conservative. But he is open-minded and fair. And he thinks about cases as a lawyer and a judge." - Mark I. Levy, a Washington lawyer who served in the Justice Department during the Carter and Clinton administrations (LA Times, 11/2/05) "Ideology aside, I think he is a terrific guy, a terrific choice. He is not Harriet Miers; he has unimpeachable credentials. He may disagree with me on many legal issues I am a Democrat; I didn't vote for Bush." - Joel Friedman, Yale classmate of Alito and professor of labor and employment law at Tulane University Law School (LA Times, 11/02/05) "I believe Mr. Alito has the experience and the skills to be the kind of judge the public deserves--one who is impartial, thoughtful, and fair. I urge the Senate to confirm his nomination." - Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) in his introductory remarks for Judge Alito's 1990 confirmation hearings. "Judge Alito is unquestionably qualified to serve on our nation's highest court. And on the bench, he has displayed a judicial philosophy marked by judicial restraint and respect for the limited role of the judiciary to interpret the law and not legislate from the bench." - Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) "President Bush has hit a home run by selecting Sam Alito. Anyone would be hard-pressed to name another nominee with such a sterling and distinguished record. Judge Alito believes the law - not the judge - should determine the results in a case. Judges are not politicians, and my Senate colleagues would do well to remember this standard as they consider this outstanding pick." - Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) "Judge Alito is the best there is. The Democrat-controlled Senate recognized these qualities in Judge Alito when it unanimously confirmed him to the court of appeals." - RNLA Member Wendy Long, Counsel to the Judicial Confirmation Network "[In] April, ... I Surveyed People That I Respect In Constitutional Law, Law Professors, Former Law Clerks Who Were Lawyers, I Said On The Pure Merits Among Those That The President Would Be Inclined To Pick, Who Would Be The Most Distinguished, Most Intellectually Serious And Thoughtful Appellate Court Judges And I Would Say In The Top Five Consistently Were Roberts And Alito." - Bill Kristol, Editor of the Weekly Standard "I Think It's A First Class Choice. Sam Alito Is Gifted Intellectually, He's A Student Of The Law...He's Going To Impress A Lot Of People. This Is An Intellectual Heavyweight, An Honors Graduate Of Leading Colleges And Law Schools, And A Man Who When We Served Together In The Department Of Justice Was Widely Respected By Our Colleagues." - Former Attorney General Dick Thornburgh "Just A Terrific Nominee. I Mean, He Has For The Past 15 Years Developed A Reputation As Being One Of The Most Thoughtful Judges In The Country. Before That He Did An Excellent Job Serving As The Head Federal Prosecutor In New Jersey." - John Nagle, Associate Dean of Notre Dame University Law School Supreme Court Watch Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg declared "Judge Roberts was unquestionably right." "My rule was I will not answer a question that attempts to project how I will rule in a case that might come before the court." This issue will likely return for the next nominee's hearing. View the artcile here. - Posted 9/29/05 "In An Interview, [DNC Chairman Howard] Dean Said Democratic Unity Is Essential In The Upcoming Battle And That The Party ‘Absolutely' Should Be Prepared To Filibuster – Holding Unlimited Debate And Preventing An Up-Or-Down Vote – Bush's Next High Court Nominee, If He Taps Someone They Find Unacceptably Ideological." (Dan Balz and Amy Goldstein, 'Filibuster Showdown Looms In Senate," The Washington Post, 9/28/05) - Posted 9/28/05 Robert Novak speculates that Senator Leahy's Judiciary Committee vote in favor of Judge Roberts' nomination was part of a larger strategy in preparation for the next Supreme Court nominee at http://www.suntimes.com/output/novak/cst-edt-novak25x.html. - Posted 9/26/05 The Judicial Confirmation Network has launched a series of advertisements detailing concerns over recent Supreme Court decisions. - Posted 7/18/05 Property Rights http://judicialnetwork.com/video1.shtml International Law in American Courts http://www.judicialnetwork.com/ad2.shtml Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) explains in an outstanding essay that the Judicial nominations process is clear: "You win the White House, you make the judical nominations." http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/hatch200507140809.asp - Posted 7/14/05 The Chicago Tribune calmly explains the landscape on abortion rights, cooling some of the virulent rhetoric from the left. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0507130020jul13,0,4925319.story?coll=chi-newsopinion-hed - Posted 7/13/05 John Leo points out that one of President Clinton's closest advisors is now admitting they considered the courts their principal vehicle for social change. http://www.usnews.com/usnews/opinion/articles/050718/18john.htm - Posted 7/11/05 Charles Krauthammer writes about the differences between a judicial approach to the law and a social approach to the law. http://www.townhall.com/columnists/charleskrauthammer/ck20050708.shtml - Posted 7/11/05 Wendy Long, Counsel to the Judicial Confirmation Network and 2005 RNLA Conference Speaker, explains why the American people deserve better than what they have gotten from the Supreme Court in recent memory. http://judicialnetwork.com/cgi-data/press_releases/files/18.shtml - Posted 7/7/05 As it turns out, once upon a time Senate Democrats understood the meaning of "advice and consent" on the President's Judicial nominees: Then: “[I]t is our responsibility as members of the [Judiciary] Committee … in advising and consenting, that we are challenged to ascertain the qualifications and the training and the experience and the judgment of a nominee, and that it is not our responsibility to test out the nominee’s particular philosophy, whether we agree or disagree ...” --Senator Kennedy, Committee On The Judiciary, U.S. Senate, Hearing, 7/19/67 Now: "“Every question is a legitimate question, period. … It is our obligation to ask the questions of the nominees about their judicial philosophies … To simply look at the résumé and say, ‘You’re fine,’ I don't buy that.” --Senator Schumer, “Schumer Heats Up Supreme Grill,” New York Post, 7/6/05 Progress for America details Senate Democrats' history of "tar and feather" politics on Judicial Nominees. The 10-Step Plan for Judicial Character Assasination http://upordownvote.com/xp303htm/tar.htm - Posted 06/27/05 A Liberal Blueprint on Roadblocking Judicial Nominees http://www.rnla.org/blog/tarandfeather.pdf - Posted 06/27/05 Statistics A telling survey of registered voters has been released that shows how out of the mainstream Senate Democrats are. Please check it out at http://www.judicialnetwork.org. - Posted 3/16/05 Judge John G. Roberts RNLA Executive Director (left) enjoys a laugh with former RNLA Member Chief Justice John Roberts (Right) after Roberts' Swearing-In at the White House, October 3, 2005. We are proud to announce that former RNLA member John G. Roberts, Jr. was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to be the next Chief Justice of the Supreme Court by a vote of 78 to 22 on Thursday, September 29th. All Republicans and 23 Democrats voted for him. We congratulate Chief Justice Roberts for this well deserved achievement. Chief Justice Roberts is the right man for the job, and we are confident he will apply the law fairly to each case that comes before the Supreme Court and will not legislate from the bench. We would also like to thank each and every RNLA member who volunteered their time and efforts to see that Roberts was confirmed. Whether helping with media interviews, press conferences, grassroots letter campaigns, organizing chapter events, preparing the RNLA’s written testimony submitted to the Judiciary Committee, performing research, writing Op-eds, or sending letters to Senators or newspapers your efforts made a difference! We would not have been an effective voice without you. View the remarks by President Bush at the Swearing in of Chief Justice Roberts at http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/09/20050929-3.html. - Posted 9/29/05 View the Associated Press story on his confirmation here. - Posted 9/29/05 "The Deal" A bi-partisan group of Senators have reached a deal on the judicial confirmation process. While the RNLA welcomes the progress made in allowing several of the filibustered nominees a vote, it continues to call on the Senate to hold a fair up or down vote on ALL judicial nominees. Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) makes clear in a letter to the editor of his hometown Lincoln Star-Ledger that "ideological attacks are not an extraordinary circumstance." http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2005/07/18/letters/doc42d8628f0eb50926327103.txt - Posted 07/18/05 John Fund of the Wall Street Journal reports that Sen. Lindsey Graham entered into the agreement with the understanding that ideology was not an "extraordinary circumstance. http://www.rnla.org/blog/schumerscheme.pdf - Posted 7/6/05 Charles Babington and Susan Schmidt speculate that the "deal" puts Senate Democrats in a real bind over the pending nomination battle. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/03/AR2005070301146.html - Posted 7/5/05 National Review's Byron York writes that despite being everyone's target, Majority Leader Frist is ultimately still winning the battle. http://www.rnla.org/blog/fristwinning.pdf - Posted 6/6/05 Minority Leader Reid is seeking committments from Democratic Senators to filibuster nominees Brett Kavanaugh and William Haynes. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=800319&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312 - Posted 6/02/05 Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) Senator Cornyn writes to assure supporters the Constitutional option is not off the table. http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/stories/MYSA053105.05B.cornyncomment.2c5fde2e9.html - Posted 5/31/05 Senator Cornyn writes that this comprimise "acknowledges that Owen, Brown, and Pryor should never have been filibustered in the first place." View the article at http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/cornyn200505240801.asp. - Posted 5/24/05 Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) writes in Human Events that the deal is certainly not a "treaty" and the Constitutional option remains on the table. http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=7590 - Posted 5/31/05 Charles Krauthammer of the Washington Post writes about his disappointment with the Republican "flinch." http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/26/AR2005052601536.html - Posted 5/29/05 James Taranto suggests conservative frustration with the deal may be pre-emptive and overblown.http://www.opinionjournal.com/best/?id=110006735 - Posted 5/26/05 Regarding the comprimise deal Senator DeWine stated: "This agreement is based on good faith, good faith among people who trust each other. And it's our complete expectation that it will work. Senators have agreed that they will not filibuster except in extraordinary circumstances. We believe that that will, in fact, work. . . . The understanding is -- and we don't think this will happen -- but if an individual senator believes in the future that a filibuster is taking place under something that's not extraordinary circumstances, we of course reserve the right to do what we could have done tomorrow which is to cast a yes vote for the constitutional option. I was prepared to do that tomorrow if we could not reach an agreement. But thank heavens we do not have to do that. And it's our hope that we will never have to do that." - Posted 5/24/05 The text of the Senate comprimise on judicial nominees is available at http://www.rnla.org/Blog/SenateComprimiseAgreement.pdf - Posted 5/23/05 View Senate Majority Leader Frist's statement on the comprimise made on the Senate Floor at http://frist.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Speeches.Detail&Speech_id=210. - Posted 5/23/05 Mark Goldblatt of the New York Post explains why in the aftermath of the deal, the Democrats' existence outside of the mainstream is what shines through. http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/opedcolumnists/24366.htm - Posted 5/27/05 Private Property Under Attack: Kelo v. City of New London In a 5-4 decision on Thursday, June 23, 2005, the Supreme Court held that local governments could exercise the power of eminent domain under the 5th Amendment's public use clause to seize private property in the name of economic development. We have compiled a few of the better pieces on this unfortunate decision for your use. - Posted 07/01/05 The USA Today discusses how the City of New London intends to charge Mrs. Kelo back rent for the time since her property was condemned, possibly leaving her broke. http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2005-08-16-homeowners-edit_x.htm - Posted 08/18/05 The Judicial Confirmation Network's new ad explains that America deserves better out of our Supreme Court. http://judicialnetwork.com/ad1.shtml - Posted 7/12/05 Developing story: There may be more things influencing the Kelo decision than meet the eye. In light of Minority Leader Pelosi's recent comments supporting the decision, blogger Will Collier is reporting some suspicious connections between Congresswoman Pelosi, the DCCC, the New York Times, and plans for future eminent domain abuses by big Democratic Campaign donors. http://vodkapundit.com/archives/007915.php - Posted 7/7/05 Legal Commentary The Institute for Justice represented Mrs. Susette Kelo and the other New London homeowners in this case. Their website has an enormous amount of information on the case and on eminent domain generally. http://www.ij.org/private_property/connecticut/index.html The Opinions: Justice Stevens' majority opinion: http://straylight.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/04-108.ZO.html Justice Kennedy's concurrence: http://straylight.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/04-108.ZC.html Some have suggested Justice O'Connor's dissent was originally going to be a majority opinion based on the force of its language. http://straylight.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/04-108.ZD.html Former Solicitor General Theodore Olson recently called Justice Thomas' dissent in Kelo the best written opinion of the last term. http://straylight.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/04-108.ZD1.html The Legal Times summary. http://www.law.com/jsp/dc/PubArticleDC.jsp?id=1119517509755 Stephen Bainbridge from the UCLA School of Law provides analysis on Tech Central Station http://www.techcentralstation.com/062305C.html Additional Commentary Richard Epstein calls Kelo a scandal in the Wall Street Journal's Opinionjournal.com http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110006904 - Posted 7/5/05 The Kelo Disconnect in Congress: Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX): "The Kelo case also demonstrates that local government can be as tyrannical as centralized government. Decentralized power is always preferable, of course, since it's easier to fight city hall than Congress. But government power is ever and always dangerous, and must be zealously guarded against. Most people in New London, Connecticut, like most people in America, would rather not involve themselves in politics. The reality is that politics involves itself with us whether we like it or not. We can bury our heads in the sand and hope that things don't get too bad, or we can fight back when government treats us as its servant rather than its master." http://www.house.gov/paul/tst/tst2005/tst070405.htm - Posted 7/5/05 House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA): "(Kelo vs. New London) is a decision of the Supreme Court. If Congress wants to change it, it will require legislation of a level of a constitutional amendment. It's an elementary discussion now. They have made the decision. So this is almost as if God has spoken." - http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=49773 - Posted 7/5/05 Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) calls for a restoration of 5th Amendment Rights http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=7953 - Posted 7/1/05 Ronald Utt of the Heritage Foundation speculates that Kelo's backlash could actually be a good thing for property rights. http://www.heritage.org/Research/SmartGrowth/wm781.cfm Jacob Sullum of Reason magazine points out how the leftist New York Times has embraced the Kelo decision. http://www.townhall.com/columnists/jacobsullum/js20050701.shtml Thomas Sowell of the Hoover Institute worries about unlimited legislative power. http://www.townhall.com/columnists/thomassowell/ts20050627.shtml The Heritage Foundation has assembled a page of links to interested organizations' press releases on Kelo. http://www.heritage.org/press/dailybriefing/policyweblog.cfm?blogid=AB905F30-F177-8FFA-AE3101D10178E7B4 The Los Angeles based company Freestar Media has started a project called the "Lost Liberty Hotel", seeking to have the Weare, New Hampshire board of selectmen use eminent domain to take Justice Souter's house for placement of a hotel. Read their press release at http://www.freestarmedia.com/hotellostliberty2.html Circuit Court Nominees Still Awaiting a Vote Judge Terrence Boyle, nominee for the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals Originally nominated: 05/09/2001 Recent News: The Senate Judiciary Committee has moved Judge Boyle's nomination to the Senate floor by a 10-8 party line vote. During the Committee's session, Senator Feingold continued to misrepresent several of Judge Boyle's rulings and Senator Kennedy continued to demand copies of his unpublished opinions. - Posted 06/16/05 The facts about Judge Boyle: http:www.rnla.org/BoyleBio.pdf - Posted 06/13/05 The Charlotte Observer profiles Judge Boyle at http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/11916086.htm?source=rss - Posted 06/20/05 Judge Susan Neilson, nominee for the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals Originally nominated: 11/08/2001 The Detroit News writes that Judge Neilsen checks her ideology at the courthouse door, making her an ideal judicial nominee. http://www.detnews.com/2005/politics/0505/31/polit-196097.htm - Posted 06/20/05 Judge Neilson's resume: http://www.usdoj.gov/olp/neilsonresume.htm - Posted 06/14/05 See the White House profile of Judge Neilson here http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/judicialnominees/neilson.html - Posted 06/20/05 Judge Henry Saad, nominee for the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals Originally nominated: 11/08/2001 Marshall Manson of Cybercast News Service explains just why Judge Saad deserves an up-or-down vote. http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCommentary.asp?Page=/Commentary/archive/200506/COM20050622a.html - Posted 06/23/05 An outstanding brief on Judge Saad's real record. http://www.rnla.org/blog/saadbrief.pdf - Posted 06/21/05 The Center for Individual Freedom explains why Judge Saad deserves better than to be held in limbo without a vote. http://www.cfif.org/htdocs/legislative_issues/federal_issues/hot_issues_in_congress/confirmation_watch/saad-deserves-vote.htm - Posted 06/16/05 Important facts about Judge Saad http://www.usdoj.gov/olp/saadbio.htm - Posted 06/13/05 The American Conservative Union has filed an ethics complaint against Minority Leader Reid for his references to a secret FBI file on Judge Saad. http://www.rnla.org/blog/ethicscomplaint.pdf - Posted 06/13/05 Senator George Allen (VA) defends Henry Saad and calls out Minority Leader Reid for "hitting below the belt." http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/13/AR2005051301431.html - Posted 06/13/05 Judge William Myers III, nominee for the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Originally nominated: 05/15/2003 The real facts on Judge Myers http://committeeforjustice.org/contents/reading/myers.pdf - Posted 06/13/05 Despite Democrats' distortions, Judge Myers has an outstanding record on environmental protection http://committeeforjustice.org/contents/reading/myers_environment.pdf - Posted 06/13/05 Mr. Brett Kavanaugh, nominee for the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Originally nominated: 07/25/2003 The real facts on Mr. Kavanaugh http://www.rnla.org/blog/kavanaughfacts.pdf - Posted 06/14/05 Mr. Kavanaugh's resume: http://www.usdoj.gov/olp/kavanaughresume.htm - Posted 06/14/05 See the White House profile of Mr. Kavanaugh here http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/judicialnominees/kavanaugh.html - Posted 06/14/05 The Honorable William Haynes II, nominee for the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals Originally nominated: 09/29/2003 See the Defense Department's profile of Mr. Haynes here http://www.defenselink.mil/dodgc/gc/gcbio.html - Posted 06/14/05 Mr Haynes' resume: http://www.usdoj.gov/olp/haynesresume.htm - Posted 06/14/05 To submit an article for this Blog please email the article or a link to the article to despain@republicanlawyer.net. Articles are subject to screening.