RBG and the Clintons reminisce

I didn’t remember that Gov. Mario Cuomo was Clinton’s first choice for the Supreme Court. He ended up nominating Ginsburg. There was a concern about her age as she was 60 at the time. But she has served now for 27 years. More from the Washington Post:

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said she knew there was concern about President Bill Clinton nominating a 60-year-old to the Supreme Court when he picked her in 1993.
“Some people thought I was too old for the job,” Ginsburg said Wednesday night during a conversation with Clinton and Hillary Clinton at Georgetown Law Center in Washington. She paused a beat.
“If you worried about my age, it was unnecessary,” she said.
Ginsburg is now 86 and entering her 27th year on the court. She and the Clintons reminisced about the old days at an annual lecture named for her.
Bill Clinton repeated that he knew within 10 minutes of interviewing then-Judge Ginsburg that he would offer her the job, although his first choice was New York Gov. Mario Cuomo.

He said she was serious about judging and laid out her views clearly. “I thought, this woman is completely on the level,” Clinton said.
Later, it was conceded that the serious Ginsburg also has a sense of humor. “It’s essential to the job,” she said.
Ginsburg says she is ‘on my way to being very well’ after cancer treatment

Hillary Clinton said she liked to think she had something to do with Ginsburg’s nomination as well. “I may have expressed an opinion or two about people he should move up” the list of possibilities, she said.

I wonder how many kids will dress up as RBG for Halloween today. Hope you have a fun night.

Are the Dems taking criminal justice reform seriously enough?

On Monday, at a forum involving former prisoners, only three Democratic nominees showed up to answer questions.  One of them is former prosecutor Kamala Harris, who has a terrible record on criminal justice reform.  Meantime, Donald Trump is speaking about criminal justice reform at every turn.  This issue has traditionally belonged to the left, but it seems to be up for grabs in the next election.  From the Marshall Project:

Harris faced questions about her record as a prosecutor in San Francisco and later as California’s attorney general, and whether she had been committed enough to “progressive prosecution.” She defended her actions, positioning herself as the only Democratic candidate who has taken tangible steps toward “reforming the criminal justice system.” The senator pointed to her creation of a reentry and job training program, for example.Harris’s critics say she opted for the most politically palatable programs while shying away from more substantive approaches, like declining to prosecute more low-level offenses, that could have reduced the number sent to prison each year in California.
***
As senator, Harris has been a vocal critic of President Trump’s First Step legislation, calling it a “compromise of a compromise.” The act granted early release for thousands of non-violent drug offenders. Harris said Monday that did not go far enough. “You took a step, but you just learned how to walk,” she said. “We need the plan for step ten.”She said on day one as president, she would conduct a comprehensive audit of the criminal justice system to understand areas for reform. Her plan also includes allocating federal funding to help local counties clear people’s criminal records, removing clemency from the Department of Justice and legalizing marijuana.

Ed Carnes to take senior status

Big news out of the 11th Circuit... Chief Judge Ed Carnes is taking senior status.  That means Donald Trump will get another judge on that court.  Currently pending are Barbara Logoa and Robert Luck.  But this seat won't go to a Florida lawyer or judge.  This one will go to someone from Alabama. 

The word is that District Judge Andrew Brasher is the favorite.  He's from the Middle District of Alabama.  If confirmed along with Lagoa and Luck, Trump will have appointed 6 judges to the court. 

Chief Judge Carnes has been on the court since 1992 (Bush) and has been Chief since 2013.

NED Award to Patricia Seitz

The Federal Bar Association's NED award holds a special place in my heart.  The NED is named after Edward B. Davis, known to his friends as Ned.  He was the ideal federal judge -- smart, funny, old-school, and a real human being.  I've never heard anyone say a negative word about him or his wife, Pat Davis.  Two of the best.  And yes, I'm biased since I clerked for Judge Davis.

Last night, the local Federal Bar Association gave the annual NED award to Judge Patricia Seitz.  Congratulations to Judge Seitz for this amazing honor.

Judge Altonaga, a former Judge Davis clerk, introduced Judge Seitz.  That was really cool, especially since Judge Altonaga is Judge Davis'
second favorite law clerk.

 h/t for the picture from last night's event from Michelle Suskauer

Raag Singhal advances to Senate floor

Congrats to Judge Singhal, who advances to the Senate floor for a full vote. He sailed out of committee this morning.