federal judges

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Obama Way Behind Bush, Clinton on Picking Judges

His federal court picks have generally been more moderate, too: NYT

(Newser) - In a deliberate strategy designed to save political capital, President Obama has nominated dozens fewer federal judges than either George W. Bush or Bill Clinton did in their first terms, potentially greatly reducing his long-term judicial impact on the United States, reports the New York Times . So far, Obama has...

Judge to Lawyer: No, You Can't Be Hemingway

He rejects odd request with his own literary flare

(Newser) - A lawyer in an upcoming federal trial wanted to make sure he'd get a particular day off in a few weeks—because, as he noted in his request, the "undersigned counsel" is "a perennial contestant in the Ernest Hemingway Look-alike Contest" at Sloppy Joe's Bar in...

Dem Senator Delays Obama Judicial Pick

Some say Robert Menendez holding grudge

(Newser) - President Obama is facing a battle over a judicial nominee—and his opponent is a fellow Democrat. New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez is delaying the confirmation of a judge to a federal Court of Appeals, and he hasn't given the New York Times a reason. But insiders think it...

Judge Defends Free Speech on Twitter in Key Case

Dismisses suit against man accused of stalking an enemy

(Newser) - Posting personal attacks on Twitter may not be a matter for the courts—even if thousands of tweets are involved, according to a US judge. In a case in San Francisco, the government accused one William Lawrence Cassidy of causing a Buddhist leader "severe emotional distress" through the social...

Jacqueline Nguyen Nominated by President Obama for Federal Appellate Court
Obama Court Pick Would
Make History
Sep 24, 2011 11:39 AM CDT

Obama Court Pick Would Make History

Vietnamese-American woman nominated for US appellate court

(Newser) - Jacqueline Nguyen fled her native Vietnam as a young girl during the fall of Saigon, and she may soon make history as the first Vietnamese-American to serve on a federal appellate court. President Obama has nominated "trailblazer" Jacqueline Nguyen to serve on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, reports...

Kansas Judge Blocks Law to Defund Planned Parenthood

Says he believes it is unconstitutional

(Newser) - A federal judge ruled today that Planned Parenthood would likely succeed in overturning a new Kansas law that would deny the group access to federal family planning funding, saying he believes the law is unconstitutional and was intended to punish Planned Parenthood for advocating for abortion rights. US District Judge...

First Openly Gay Man Quietly Confirmed as US Judge

J. Paul Oetken makes history, with little fanfare

(Newser) - The US got its first openly gay male federal judge last night. J. Paul Oetken, a former lawyer for the Clinton administration, was confirmed by the Senate on an 80-13 vote and could take his Manhattan seat this week, the New York Times reports. "The old barriers that existed...

Vacancies Leave Federal Courts in Crisis

Republican holds on judicial nominees taking a toll

(Newser) - Republicans’ refusal to allow votes on President Obama’s judicial nominees has pushed courts to the breaking point, particularly in southwestern courts struggling with drug and illegal immigration trials, the Washington Post reports. In Arizona, for example, some judges are handling about 1200 criminal cases simultaneously. The state recently declared...

Fla. Judge: Obamacare Is Unconstitutional

Federal court sides with 26 states

(Newser) - A federal judge in Florida says the Obama administration's health overhaul is unconstitutional, siding with 26 states that had sued to block it. US District Judge Roger Vinson today accepted without trial the states' argument that the new law violates people's rights by forcing them to buy health insurance by...

John Roll Remembered as Fair Jurist, Regular Guy

Received death threats after controversial 2008 immigration case

(Newser) - Judge John Roll took tough immigration cases on head-on in his courtroom, but yesterday the slain judge was remembered as a guy who loved walking his beloved basset hounds and was prone to getting lost on the way to McDonald's. "That's always a good thing to hear, that people...

Plan in Iowa to Impeach Judges Is Dangerous
Plan in Iowa to Impeach
Judges Is Dangerous
OPINION
Jan 7, 2011 1:24 PM CST

Plan in Iowa to Impeach Judges Is Dangerous

Op-ed: Activists angry over same-sex ruling are going too far

(Newser) - Throughout US history, “no matter how controversial the case, no state or federal judge has been impeached for an opinion issued from the bench,” writes Bert Brandenburg in the Washington Post . But now, activists in Iowa want to impeach the justices who voted to allow same-sex marriage in...

Blogger Gets 3 Years for Judge Threats

Online radio host Hal Turner posted judges photos, addresses

(Newser) - Far-right blogger and Internet radio host Hal Turner has been sentenced to 33 months for writing on his web stie that three federal judges who upheld Chicago's handgun ban "deserve to be killed." Turner—who posted photographs, phone numbers and work addresses for the judges—was convicted of...

Senate Impeaches La. Judge, Yanks Him From Bench

He's the eighth federal judge to be impeached and convicted by Congress

(Newser) - The Senate has voted unanimously to convict US District Judge G. Thomas Porteous of Louisiana on the first of four impeachment charges , removing him from the federal bench. The decision makes Porteous just the eighth federal judge in US history to be impeached and convicted by Congress. The Senate is...

Gun-Toting Fed Judge Busted in Stripper Drug Buy

FBI: Georgia jurist planned to share cocaine, pot with exotic dancer

(Newser) - A Georgia federal judge is facing drugs and weapons charges in a case as bizarre as anything he's likely to have heard on the bench. Veteran judge Jack Camp, 67, was busted on charges of possessing cocaine, marijuana, and prescription painkillers after buying the drugs from an undercover agent, according...

Judge Gives Gay Air Force Nurse Personal Words of Support

'You are truly blessed as a family'

(Newser) - The judge who ordered the Air Force to reinstate a gay flight nurse yesterday also paused to deliver personal words of encouragement to Margaret Witt, notes the Seattle Times . "You said something in the trial that resonated with me," said District Court Judge Ronald Leighton. "You said...

Senate Opens Impeachment Hearings on La. Judge

Chamber's first since Bill Clinton's in 1999

(Newser) - The Senate will open today an impeachment trial against a Louisiana judge facing a slew of corruption charges, Fox News reports. The House already voted unanimously to impeach US District Judge G. Thomas Porteous, accused of lying under oath and taking payoffs. A Senate impeachment panel will hold three all-day...

Partisan Tiff Leaves Federal Courts Without Judges

GOP still blocking nominees, Obama slow to nominate

(Newser) - The partisan standoff on judges is starting threaten our ability to administer justice. Nearly 1 in 8 federal judgeships are currently vacant, the LA Times reports, as Senate Republicans block many of President Obama’s nominees. Just 47% of Obama’s nominees have been approved—the lowest rate in 30...

Obama Eyes Elena Kagan, 2 Others for Supreme Court

President will move fast once Stevens steps down

(Newser) - Justice John Paul Stevens still hasn't decided exactly how soon he'll retire from the Supreme Court, but President Obama already has his eye on three potential replacements: Solicitor General Elena Kagan and federal appellate judges Diane Wood and Merrick Garland. The White House is preparing to move quickly with a...

Judge Hearing Prop 8 Case Is Gay
Judge Hearing Prop 8 Case
Is Gay
Feb 8, 2010 1:21 PM CST

Judge Hearing Prop 8 Case Is Gay

Not that there's anything wrong with that ... at least for now

(Newser) - The judge who will rule on the constitutionality of California’s gay marriage ban is gay. Vaughn Walker, who drew the assignment at random, has a reputation as a conservative and libertarian. Gay activists say his sexual orientation isn't an issue, but a rep for the group that sponsored the...

Judges Punt on Legal Definition of Romance
Judges Punt on Legal Definition of Romance
who's 'significant'?
Jan 8, 2010 10:01 AM CST

Judges Punt on Legal Definition of Romance

They cite 'He's Just Not Into You' in opinion on 'significant' relationship

(Newser) - It's not every day that references to He's Just Not That Into You and When Harry Met Sally show up in federal appeals court decisions, but this case is an exception. A three-judge panel of the Second Circuit struck down a bizarre condition that a defendant notify his probation officer—...

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