9/22/2005 - We may have went down-- but don't count us out! MDMTA IS BACK!!
Posted in Unspecified
In a September 22, 2005 item, Media Matters for America left out key information concerning U.S. judges, leaving the impression that the courts hold a Republican stance.
http://mediamatters.org/items/200509220005
The item, entitled "O'Reilly wrong again: 'Republicans don't have control of the judicial branch," argues that claim on the grounds that the majority of federal judges have been appointed by Republicans. In their words, O'Reilly "falsely asserted that 'the Republicans don't have control of the judicial branch.' " While MMFA is correct in stating that the majority of federal judges were nominated by Republicans, this in no way means that the courts are ruled by Republicans. This does not mean all Republican-appointed judges are conservative Republicans.
To demonstrate this, here is a list of current/retiring/soon-to-be-replaced Supreme Court judges appointed by Republicans:
William Rehnquist (now deceased)
David Souter
John Paul Stevens
Sandra Day O' Conner (waiting for retirement)
Anthony Kennedy
Clarence Thomas
Of those, David Souter, John Paul Stevens, Sandra Day O' Connor, and Anthony Kennedy are all in favor of the decision in Roe v. Wade, not exactly a favored position by most Republicans. In Bush v. Gore, Republican-appointed judges Stevens and Souter voted in the dissent. Now that's being a true Republican!
The party a judge was appointed by does not necessarily mean the judge his/her self is a member of that party.
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