Judiciary

Today’s Lead Paint Filing

By Carroll Andrew Morse | April 20, 2006 |

According to both the Projo’s 7-to-7 blog and NBC-10, the three paint manufacturers found liable for what could amount to billions of dollars in damages in the Rhode Island lead paint trial have filed suit in Rhode Island Superior Court asking for either a dismissal of the case or for a new trial to be…

Lead Paint Cleanup Could be in the Billions

By Carroll Andrew Morse | April 5, 2006 | Comments Off on Lead Paint Cleanup Could be in the Billions

In today’s Projo, Peter B. Lord reports on the damage determination phase of the Rhode Island lead paint trial…State lawyers are asking a Superior Court judge to appoint a public health expert to plan and oversee a lead-paint cleanup program in Rhode Island that they say could cost between $1.37 billion and $3.74 billion. The…

The Lead Paint Trial Continues

By Carroll Andrew Morse | April 3, 2006 |

Julie Creswell of the New York Times had an excellent summary in Sunday’s paper of the Rhode Island lead paint trial and how it may not be as finished as you think it is. In addition to detailing the history of the case and the pending issues involving possible appeals and setting damages, Ms. Creswell…

Moving Beyond Loyalty to the Rule of Law Mixes Law & Politics

By Donald B. Hawthorne | February 7, 2006 | Comments Off on Moving Beyond Loyalty to the Rule of Law Mixes Law & Politics

One of the most powerful long-term benefits of the Senate hearings for Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito was that the American people were reintroduced to the proper and limited role of the judiciary as envisioned by our Founders. In other words, conservatives were not simply seeking to confirm judges who will be activists –…

Elaborating Further on the Constitutional Principle of Federalism

By | February 6, 2006 | Comments Off on Elaborating Further on the Constitutional Principle of Federalism

Discussing the recent Supreme Court decision on Oregon’s assisted suicide law, the Wall Street Journal editorial entitled Federalism, a la Carte (available for a fee) states: Supreme Court watchers can be forgiven if they thought they were in a Twilight Zone episode yesterday as they read the 6-3 opinion upholding Oregon’s assisted-suicide law against attempted…

Reflecting on Justice Alito’s Confirmation Hearings: Not All Law is Politics in Robes

By | February 6, 2006 | Comments Off on Reflecting on Justice Alito’s Confirmation Hearings: Not All Law is Politics in Robes

In a January 14 Wall Street Journal article entitled Not All Law is Politics in Robes (available for a fee), Jonathan Adler offers these comments: …Sen. Joseph Biden suggested in frustration that the Senate scrap confirmation hearings and simply debate the nominee’s decisions as if they were considering legislation. Mr. Biden’s remarks are symptomatic of…

Where Senator Chafee has Gone “Off the Reservation”

By Marc Comtois | January 31, 2006 |

In addition to being the only Republican Senator to vote against the confirmation of now-Justice Alito, Senator Chafee has opposed President Bush and–more often–conservative ideals on the following substantive matters. (All links are to data provided by ProjectVoteSmart. An index of Sen. Chafee’s complete voting record is here). Presidential Appointments: Voted against nomination of Judge…

Filibuster Rejected, Full Senate Vote on Alito to be Held Tommorrow

By Carroll Andrew Morse | January 30, 2006 | Comments Off on Filibuster Rejected, Full Senate Vote on Alito to be Held Tommorrow

According to the Washington Post‘s Campaign for the Supreme Court blog, the attempt to filibuster the Alito nomination has been officially rejected by the Senate by a vote of 72-25. As to what follows…A vote by simple majority to confirm in the full Senate is expected about 11 a.m. tomorrow, with a swearing-in to follow…

Chafee to Vote No on Alito

By Carroll Andrew Morse | January 30, 2006 |

From Jack Perry on the Projo’s 9-to-5 blog…U.S. Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee announced this morning that he will vote against the nomination of Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr. to the Supreme Court.

Chafee Decision on Alito to be Announced at 10AM

By Carroll Andrew Morse | January 30, 2006 | Comments Off on Chafee Decision on Alito to be Announced at 10AM

From Jack Perry of the Projo’s 9-to-5 blog…U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chafee has scheduled a press conference this morning to announce how he will vote on the nomination of Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr. to the United States Supreme Court. The Republican senator plans to announce his decision at 10 a.m. in his office on Westminster…