The Outsized Role of the ABA
By AndrewHyman Posted in Analysis and Predictions — Comments (2) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Ed Whelan has an article in the August 28 issue of National Review, titled "Not Qualified; The American Bar Association and its role in our confirmation process." Whelan says:
With its lurch leftwards in recent decades, the American Bar Association can no longer plausibly claim to be a nonpartisan professional-services organization for lawyers. But even as it has degenerated into another liberal advocacy group, the ABA has trumpeted the imprimatur that its continuing privileged role in the judicial-confirmation process accords it. It's time to put an end to that....Specter has now rejected the ABA's rating of [Fifth Circuit nominee Michael] Wallace and has deftly teed up the broader question of displacing the ABA from its privileged role in the confirmation process. The time for action is ripe, as the ABA has proven itself unworthy of the trust that has been placed in it.
P.S. If a judge consults mystic dwarves for guidance in deciding cases, would judicial independence bar removal of that judge? It's not completely hypothetical.
Hat Tips to How Appealing for the Whelan article, and to Fremont for the dwarf article.
Wallace should be renominated
by BoBo
Wallace should be renominated for the sole reason of exposing the partisanship of the ABA ratings committee and its evaluative method. Accountability should be forced upon the ABA. A group of liberal activists should not be allowed to control the confirmation process of qualified conservative judges.
is how far Specter will go this session. I can't imagine he will want to let it end with it looking like they pulled a fast one on him. I don't think the ABA has seen the last of Arlen.