What’s to Become of Hamilton? Senate Could Decide [Today]

[usregimechange]

Indianapolis federal judge David Hamilton was the first one out of the gate — President Obama’s first pick to become a federal court of appeals judge. Nearly eight months later, however, Judge Hamilton (Haverford, Yale Law), still hasn’t received an up or down vote from the Senate.

Judge Hamilton’s situation could change today, however. The Senate will vote on a cloture motion to forestall a filibuster on the Hamilton vote. Click here, here, here and here for previous posts on Hamilton.

Some Senate Republicans seem to have some trouble with Hamilton, largely stemming from rulings in which in which Judge Hamilton struck down as unconstitutional sectarian Christian prayers in the Indiana state house but allowed those that referred to Allah. That decision was reversed on procedural grounds by the Seventh Circuit, the court Hamilton aspires to join.

The editorial boards at the WaPo and LAT on Tuesday weigh in on the Hamilton matter, encouraging the Senate to give Hamilton an up-or-down vote. In defending Hamilton on his controversial ruling, the WaPo writes:

"Judge Hamilton explained in his written opinion that the ruling did not “prohibit the House from opening its session with prayers if it chooses to do so, but will require that any official prayers be inclusive and non-sectarian, and not advance one particular religion.”

http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2009/11/17/whats-to-become-of-david-hamilton-senate-could-decide-tuesday/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/16/AR2009111603258.html

[alfredo]

1. Keep us posted.

[Bitwit1234]

2. And that is what people

say. If you have to have one religion featured, then you have to let other religions have their say. What is wrong with that ruling. I guess he didn't let the republicans tell him what to do. I am sick to death of them. I think from now on when you have a republican in power, Democrats should show some spine and block everything they do. Everything. Tax cuts for the rich etc.

And by the way old Phewlenty is getting his come-uppance in Minnesota. He is being sued by the DFL (now those democrats have spine). He took the budget that was approved by the State Congress and cut everything he wanted out of it. Now the DFL'ers say it was illegal according to state law. So they are taking him to court. How will this look on his resume.

And this is something all democrats should do. DON'T SIT STILL AND LET THE REPUBLICAN MINORITY RUN OVER THEM. But the bunch of jelly fish we have in congress are so spineless they give real jelly fish a bad name.