November 4, 2005
WHERE'S A WHIG WHEN YOU NEED ONE?:
Third DeLay judge appointed, but confusion remains (AP, 11/04/05)
A new judge has been appointed to preside over Rep. Tom DeLay's campaign finance trial after two judges stepped away from their involvement in the case because of their own political contributions.But judicial wrangling left the validity of Thursday's appointment of semiretired Senior Judge Pat Priest of San Antonio in question.
Priest, a Democrat, was selected to replace District Judge Bob Perkins, who was removed Tuesday at DeLay's request because of his contributions to Democrats.
Posted by Orrin Judd at November 4, 2005 8:46 AM
It is a very strange theory that essentially says, in order to be sure there is no bias, only a Republican judge can preside a trial with a Republican defendant. Something tells me that if the Democrats argued this, there'd be howls of protest.
Posted by: Chris Durnell at November 4, 2005 10:53 AMChris:
They just did argue it, that's why there's a third judge. Moreover, it's true. If you're going to criminalize politics then the party of the judge matters.
Posted by: oj at November 4, 2005 10:59 AMThe one time a moderate would be useful, we can't find one.
This one's a retired Democratic judge, which may translate into having been a judge at a time in Texas when people like Phil Gramm (or, ahem, Harriet Miers) still were Democrats.
That doesn't necessarily mean he's a moderate, since San Antonio Democratic politics has a tradition of liberalism almost as long as Austin's. But odds are greater that an older Democrat is not going to be as partisan as one still involved, and even supportive, of the current party politics.
Posted by: John at November 4, 2005 11:31 AMThey didn't get rid of the first guy just b/c he donated to the dems, but b/c he donated to the loopy radicals, MoveOn, who were financing the get-delay campaign. Big difference.
Posted by: Jim in Chicago at November 4, 2005 11:48 AMThe Democratic party was more subtle about their "Get DeLay" campaign. Subtlety matters in these instances.
Posted by: Timothy at November 4, 2005 1:41 PM