Quote:
Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
Sure, when you're out of power, that's the best rhetorical device.
Let's wait on the clinton judge's decision on schiavo before throwing around the activist judge term.
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(emphasis added)
Most of the federal judges in Florida -- including the unfortunate one who drew the short straw and got stuck with this case -- were picked by a committee made up of a panel of lawyers jointly appointed by Senators Bob Graham (D) and Connie Mack (R). Bush I and Clinton pretty much appointed whomever this panel picked. When Connie Mack retired and Democrat Bill Nelson took his seat, I think that Mack's role in judicial appointments was filled by Bill Young, the senior Republican in the Florida U.S. congressional delegation.
The judges that were appointed in the Middle District under this plan have been pretty solid non-political types -- I don't think that Judge Whittemore qualifies as a Clintonista. And the Eleventh Circuit (which will surely find itself dealing with this case soon) is pretty much made up of Republican appointees.
