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The "Stealth War on Judges" And Paul Begala.

So I see the Senate finally confirmed Joseph Greenaway Jr. to the 3d Circuit, unanimously, after being nominated back in June 2009:

Joseph Greenaway Jr. is the latest example of a delayed nominee with no opposition. Nominated in June for the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, he won the unanimous backing of the Senate Judiciary Committee in October. The Senate could have confirmed him immediately, without even a formal vote, but it took until Feb. 9, when Greenaway was confirmed, 84-0.

"He should have been confirmed last year, and he would have but for Republican objection," said Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, in remarks prepared for the Senate floor.

Seven other nominees for district or appellate judgeships had similar experiences before getting confirmed unanimously. Ten nominees are awaiting votes, and many of them face no opposition.

Republicans say the delays are warranted, given the rigorous vetting involved for lifetime appointments to the federal bench. "We need to do our homework. Do our background. See what the bar association says. See what the FBI says," said Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, at a Feb. 11 hearing.

That is just disgraceful.

Regardless of your politics, there is no reason to hold up judicial nominations where the nominee is not controversial, there is no public opposition, and no red flags have been raised.

Speaking of politics, it felt like 1998 all over again last night as Ira Leesfield received the AJC's Judge Learned Hand Award.

Bill Clinton, Bob Graham, Bill Nelson, ok.

But Paul Begala?

Finally, the first federal drywall trial, where Ervin and Victor are co-lead counsel, is set to commence Monday in New Orleans, but without key Chinese defendants:

The proceedings will be conducted without Taishan's participation, so there was no one to contact for comment. On Thursday, Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co. Ltd., another drywall manufacturer from China which had intervened in the Taishan proceedings because of its interest in any precedents that could come out of the case, abruptly dropped out, leaving no defense witnesses and no one to cross-examine the plaintiffs' witnesses.

Should make the Daubert hearing a bit easier, don't you think?

Full post as published by South Florida Lawyers on February 19, 2010 (boomark / email).