Judicial appts remain in limbo as Senator Dumbass continues obstruction

[undeterred]

Thursday, November 3, 2011
Judicial appointments remain in limbo as Johnson, Kohl disagree on make up of nominating commission


U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson says he wants equal representation on the Federal Nominating Commission to fill two judicial openings even though that would break precedent in Wisconsin. U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl countered that it was a “great disappointment” that Johnson wanted changes to the commission’s composition.

When the state’s senators have been from different parties, the lawmaker whose party controls the White House has traditionally had five appointments to the body while the other senator has four. But Johnson, R-Oshkosh, said giving him the same number of appointments as Kohl, D-Milwaukee, would increase the chances the candidates would win approval in the U.S. Senate. “I sincerely hope that Senator Kohl does not decide to go on his own and recommend nominees without bipartisan input,” Johnson said in a statement to WisPolitics.com. “I continue to be willing to work with Senator Kohl to establish a balanced nominating commission. The people of Wisconsin chose a Republican Senator, which should entitle them to equal representation in the recommendation of judicial nominees to this Administration.”

President Obama previously nominated former state Supreme Court Justice Louis Butler to the Western District of Wisconsin and UW-Madison Law Professor Victoria Nourse to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. But the Senate, though with a Dem majority, didn't act on those nominations before the past session ended; Johnson had objected to both nominations being carried over after he took office in January.

Since then, Johnson and Kohl’s offices have been in discussions on a way to move forward on filling the vacancies by starting the process over through the Federal Nominating Commission, which the state has used to screen judicial applicants to recommendation to the White House. Sources have told WisPolitics.com that Johnson and Kohl, who has announced he'll retire after next year, have been unable to reach an agreement on the commission’s composition.

http://dc.wispolitics.com/2011/11/judicial-appointments-remain-in-limbo.html

With a presidential election in 2012, it’s unlikely the Senate will move quickly on judicial appointments. Combine that with Kohl’s lame duck status, and it may be 2013 before there’s any movement.

[AleksS]

1. Johnson, the shame of Wisconsin

Johnson, the shame of Wisconsin.

What an arrogant turd. Yes Ronnie: you did a great job marrying into money and getting your Daddy-in-law to make you a business to play with. But that's not really anything to brag about.

It just kills me that the real world is never going to get within 100 miles of percing the ignorance-bubble, where he really believes he's something special, and not just a bumbling fool who married lucky.