Republicans Investigate Judge in Michigan Case
Wrongdoing in School Quota Case Alleged
By Charles Lane
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, November 1, 2003; Page A05
Congressional Republicans have launched a renewed investigation of alleged wrongdoing by a Democratic-appointed federal judge in a landmark affirmative action case -- sparking countercharges that the GOP is using political pressure tactics against the judiciary.
Judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, based in Cincinnati, said staff members from the House Judiciary Committee have visited judges and court officials in recent days -- in two cases appearing unannounced at judges' chambers. The staff members demanded documents and asked to question two Democratic-appointed judges, but the judges refused.
The investigators said they were looking into charges -- first aired last year by a Republican-appointed judge on the 6th Circuit -- that the circuit's Democratic-appointed chief judge, Boyce F. Martin Jr., had rigged the lineup of judges who ruled on the University of Michigan Law School's affirmative action policy so the school would win.
In June, the Supreme Court affirmed the 6th Circuit ruling, establishing the constitutionality of race-conscious university admissions generally. Many conservatives, though, are still unhappy not only with that outcome but also with what they consider improper maneuvering by the lower court that made the Supreme Court case possible.
"They're mad at our court because they lost, and they won't let up. It's unbelievable," said Damon J. Keith, a senior judge who was appointed by Democratic President Jimmy Carter.
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48920-2003Oct31.htmlThis is our new system of "justice" in our country.