Editorial: Southwick qualified
Mississippi's Clarion Ledger editorializes today that Judge Southwick is qualified to fill the position and the diversity criticism should not be "aimed at Southwick but Bush" and that "diversity on the bench is 'overdue.' But that's not the fault of Southwick, nor does it in any way reflect on his abilities or qualifications. Albeit insensitive of the administration not to promote diversity, the U.S. Senate should confirm the nomination."
Folks are commenting about Southwick over at MississippiPolitics.com
Mary Libby Payne served with Southwick on the Appeals Court and said in a letter-to-the-editor: "He has been an exemplary appellate court judge in Mississippi for 12 years. Judge Southwick has keen intellect, unequaled work ethic, articulate opinion-writing skills, impeccable character and proven loyalty to the nation by his military service in Iraq."
Folks are commenting about Southwick over at MississippiPolitics.com
Mary Libby Payne served with Southwick on the Appeals Court and said in a letter-to-the-editor: "He has been an exemplary appellate court judge in Mississippi for 12 years. Judge Southwick has keen intellect, unequaled work ethic, articulate opinion-writing skills, impeccable character and proven loyalty to the nation by his military service in Iraq."
Labels: Mississippi's Federal Bench
posted by Brian | Thursday, January 11, 2007
1 Comments:
I urge the President to find a better candidate than Leslie Southwick, whose actions have shown him to be unworthy and insensitive. To allow this nomination to be confirmed would condone and legitimize his obvious disregard for issues that confront minority communities. Southwick made a decision in Richmond v. Mississippi Dept. of Human Services to uphold the reinstatement of a worker who referred to a co-worker as a “good-ole nigger” after a hearing officer found that calling the employee “a good ole nigger’ was the equivalent of calling the employee a “teacher’s pet." Southwick also has a proven pattern of approving peremptory challenges that exclude minorities from juries (striking persons from serving on a jury, usually without giving a reason). Those who serve on the bench must not only have a good judicial temperament and be well-versed in the law, they must also have a sound understanding of what constitutes invidious discrimination, as well as what constitutes a hostile work environment.
We have to assume that people may give us only one clue into their inner-most thinking. We cannot avoid the clues given to us by Southwick in his Richmond v. Mississippi Dept. of Human Services ruling and his rulings on race discrimination in jury selection. These rulings are indicative of Southwick’s willingness to condone overt bigotry and engage in covert discrimination. We cannot ignore this evidence before us-- it must be examined before it is too late and a lifetime appointment is made.
Cragg Hines of the Houston Chronicle was absolutely on target when he compared Southwick to Don Imus. Judges have a necessity to be impartial. Southwick and his Imus-like mentality must not be allowed to serve on the bench in the 5th Circuit, the federal circuit with the highest percentage of minorities. Though we may not have evidence on how he would view other minorities, the evidence we do have tells us this is not a person with an adequate understanding of minority issues. It is essential, knowing what we know now, for the President to rethink and withdraw the nomination of Leslie Southwick to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals-- Southwick is not the only person available. There are other candidates who are capable, competent, and qualified without this Imus-like mentality and they must be considered.
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