Anchor Rising: And Then There Are the Judgeships

August 23, 2009

And Then There Are the Judgeships

Justin Katz

Per Anchor Rising's rule of thumb for whether inside connections should disqualify one from receiving a particular appointment: After an exhaustive nationwide search, the governor has nominated... his chief of staff to fill a Superior Court opening. I'd say the nomination doesn't pass the test.

Again, I'm sympathetic to the arguments that people who've been in government and law for years know the ropes and that familiarity is a valid consideration for nominations, but at this point, enough damage is done to Rhode Island by the perception and reality that the government is a self-rewarding spoils system that it outweighs these benefits. Some might suggest that some positions would be more difficult to fill if accepting them foreclosed other possibilities in the future, but such are the decisions of life.

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Don't worry abut perception, it's the reality of life in Rogue's Island.

Any takers on a wager that Joe Montalbano and Tim Williamson show up on a "short list" for Judicial appointments?

Posted by: Aldo at August 23, 2009 8:48 PM

How are any of these appointments,including Brian Stern,worse than Jack Reed and Sheldon picking Jack McConnell,the RI Democratic moneybag for a Federal judgeship?McConnell is also an attorney who takes ACLU cases.Why not make things even easier for Steven Brown in his quest to destroy our society and grind out every last vestige of tradition and normalcy?Along with fellow demon "Dr."Dan Weisman.These creatures will now have a hotline to the Federal bench.

Posted by: joe bernstein at August 24, 2009 4:23 AM

Joe-

McConnell at least has a distinguished trial record. Stern - well I have yet to hear what his trial experience is, but to my knowledge he has a single reported case, which leads me to believe he is VERY light on trial experience in Superior Court. My gut tells me there are reporters who have spent more time there than he has.

Posted by: Mach at August 24, 2009 2:42 PM

I never heard of Stern,but I'm not in the legal profession,so that's of no consequence.
McConnell,will,I am afraid,be unable to leave the left wing politics out of his decisions.I saw him speaking on a tv program run by the ACLU and he sounded like an actor.Something about him just turned me right off.Carl Kruger was on with him-I've been familiar with Kruger for about 25 years-he's another liberal,but he is a straight shooter.
McConnell is a guy I would never turn my back on.Not every Federal judge here has been the cream of the crop,but most of them tried to be fair.
Judge Pettine had a reputation as an "easy"liberal among a lot of cops.I found him to be an outstanding judge-very smart,and not in the least prejudiced against law enforcement.Just don't lie on the stand and you'll be okay.
I never cared if a cse went South because I overlooked something-I should have done a better job.I wasn't going to lie someone into jail.Hint:They go right back to what they were doing and you can always catch them again.

Posted by: joe bernstein at August 24, 2009 3:44 PM