U.S. courts due for left turn with Obama: Changes likely in conservative 4th Circuit

[usregimechange]

Barack Obama's presidency and his party's dominance in Congress could mean sweeping changes to the federal court system, which handles thousands of cases annually on issues ranging from civil rights to securities and banking regulation.

And the most drastic changes are likely to come in the nation's most conservative appeals court - the 4th Circuit, which oversees cases from Maryland and four other Mid-Atlantic states. Republican nominees hold a narrow 6-5 edge on the Richmond-based court, but there are already four vacancies and several others could open up during Obama's term.

Such change could have broad impact on national policy, considering the types of cases this circuit handles: those dealing with the war on terror and the many government agencies situated in the Maryland and Virginia suburbs, said Ilya Shapiro, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank in Washington. The court also decides cases from West Virginia and the Carolinas.

"This is the circuit where Obama will have the fastest chance to have the greatest impact," Shapiro said.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/bal-te.courts07dec07,0,5494769.story

[usregimechange]

1. That would be about half the 4th circuit!

[FrenchieCat]

2. Hell Yeah!

That's what I'm talking about!

How exciting for justice! :woohoo:

[usregimechange]

3. The 4th tried to do away with Miranda, "voided Violence Against Women Act," upheld the Confed flag

etc...

[usregimechange]

4. "Today 12 of the federal appeals courts have a majority of judges nominated by Republicans; only the

...9th Circuit, based in San Francisco, is majority Democratic."

Ibid

:scared:

[aquart]

5. Hallelujah! Appoint the youngest, healthiest liberals around.

[Radical Activist]

6. no corporate attorneys.

I hope every nominee is a former attorney in civil rights, environmental defense, or consumer protection.

They need someone from NC. John Edwards is from NC...

[usregimechange]

7. Corporate lawyers isn;t Obama's style but I suspect Edwards isn't either