The AP reports that Republicans and Democrats in the Senate have made a deal on judicial nominations, "after a monthslong blockade." As you note, Judge Susan Nelson in Minnesota is a beneficiary of this deal. Among the sacrificial lambs, however, appears to be Louis J. Butler, in Wisconsin.
You may recall that Butler was previously appointed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court but failed to retain the seat in one of the most hotly contested (some might say vicious) judicial campaigns in memory. His nomination to fill a vacancy in the Western District of Wisconsin angered conservatives, who thought a life-tenure judgeship was too rich a consolation prize for someone who'd been rejected by Wisconsin voters. Their opposition appears to have won the day.
One wonders if Senators Kohl and Feingold were being particuarly wise when they suggested that President Obama nominate Justice Butler. While hindsight is 20/20, it should not have taken much forsesight to determine that Republicans would not be amenable to giving a federal judgeship to a person they just booted off the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
ReplyDelete