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Thursday, April 30, 2009

Ind. Courts - "Judge Hamilton sails through 2nd hearing"

So reports Maureen Groppe / Gannett News Service today in the Indianapolis Star. Some quotes:

WASHINGTON -- Despite Republicans' insistence that they needed more time to question Hoosier Judge David Hamilton, the GOP showed little interest in him Wednesday during the second confirmation hearing held for his nomination to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn, the only Republican who attended the hearing, asked two mild questions before praising Hamilton's uncle, former Indiana Rep. Lee Hamilton, as one of his heroes.
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The Senate Judiciary Committee held the second hearing after Republicans boycotted an April 1 hearing, complaining that it was held too quickly to give them a chance to review Hamilton's record.

Committee Chairman Pat Leahy, D-Vt., who also did not attend the second hearing, said in a statement that he agreed to hold it because of requests made by Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., and Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania.

"I hope that Republican members will reciprocate by not further delaying this nomination," Leahy said.

Specter, who had been the top Republican on the panel, announced Tuesday that he's becoming a Democrat. He did not attend the hearing in either capacity. Kyl also did not attend. * * *

Coburn asked Hamilton about his view of using international law as guidance and about a comment he had made about judges writing the footnotes to the Constitution. Hamilton said he was making the point that judges are not trying to do something new, but are applying old principles and constitutional provisions to new situations.

Coburn thanked Hamilton, adding: "I would say that Lee Hamilton is one of my heroes. I have great admiration and respect for him."

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals is the last stop before the Supreme Court for cases from Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin.

An interesting earlier ILB entry is this one from March 22, 2009, which includes a link to the questionnaire Judge Hamilton filled out for the Judiciary Committee. The ILB entry remarks on the answer on p. 55, at the end of question 10, where Hamilton writes: "Judge Zore has retired, and his current address is unknown."

Posted by Marcia Oddi on April 30, 2009 06:35 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts