Features: Judging the Environment: Judging the Environment: Federal Judicial Nominations

Features

William Myers and Jack Abramoff
News articles link Ninth Circuit nominee William Myers to lobbyist Jack Abramoff

Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor Retires
Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor was a voice of moderation on the Supreme Court, and often cast the decisive vote in favor of protecting the environmental safeguards enjoyed by all Americans.

Samuel Alito Confirmed to the Supreme Court
Background on Judge Samuel Alito and opposition to his nomination to the Supreme Court

John Roberts Confirmed as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
Reaction to nomination and confirmation of Judge John Roberts as Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court

Efforts to Split the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
History and current status of anti-environmental efforts to split the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

Efforts to Circumvent Senate Rules to End Judicial Nominee Filibusters
History of efforts by the Republican Senate leadership to end judicial filibusters by circumventing Senate rules

Creating New Judgeships
“Justice delayed is justice denied.” Legislation is pending in the Senate and House to help reduce backlogs in the nation’s district and circuit courts by authorizing additional judgeships. The Federal Judgeship Act of 2009 (S. 1653 and H.R. 3662) would create new federal judgeships based upon non-partisan recommendations by the Judicial Conference of the United States, the federal courts’ policy making body.