Saturday, May 26, 2007

Party Down

The Republican party that is. No experience required. LATimes (05.26.07):
"Over the last two years, U.S. Atty. Gen. Alberto R. Gonzales has appointed more than two dozen individuals as federal immigration judges.

The new jurists include a former treasurer of the Louisiana Republican Party, who was a legal advisor to the Bush Florida recount team after the 2000 presidential election. There is also a former GOP congressional aide who had tracked voter fraud issues for the Justice Department, and a Texan appointed by then-Gov. George W. Bush to a seat on the state library commission."

Immigration judges lack apt backgrounds

"One thing missing on many of their resumes: a background in immigration law."

"These lawyers are among a growing number of the nation's more than 200 immigration judges who have little or no experience in the law they were appointed to enforce."

"The admission by former Justice Department official Monica M. Goodling this week that federal immigration judges were screened for their political credentials and loyalty to the Republican Party in possible violation of civil service laws is drawing new attention to the usually low-profile immigration bench."

"'In the last few years, we have seen the appointment of a good number of immigration judges with no background whatsoever in immigration … which really makes you wonder how it is they are being appointed to those positions,' said Crystal Williams, deputy director of programs at the American Immigration Lawyers Assn. in Washington."

"In light of Goodling's testimony, Williams said, 'I think we might have an answer.'"

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