John Fund, editorial in the Opinion Journal: Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) is blocking is refusing even to allow a hearing for a judicial nominee who has the backing of prominent Democrats, in part because she harbors a decade-old grudge about the Clinton impeachment.Jim Rogan, now a California Superior Court judge, was a member of the House Judiciary Committee back in 1998, when it fell on him to be one of the 13 managers making the case before the Senate for Mr. Clinton's conviction. It was generally understood at the time that Mr. Rogan's role was unpopular in his Pasadena-based district and could cost him his political career. . . .
In 2001, the Senate unanimously confirmed him for a top job overseeing intellectual property law at the Commerce Department. His reorganization of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office there earned him accolades from both business and labor groups. In 2004, Mr. Rogan returned to California, where Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed him to the bench.
In January of this year, President Bush appointed Mr. Rogan to fill a vacancy on the U.S. District Court. A letter supporting his nomination cited his integrity and "reputation for fairness" and was signed by such liberal former colleagues as Reps. Pete Stark, Anna Eshoo and the late Juanita Millender-McDonald. The Rogan nomination also has the support of Michael Dukakis, former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown and key members of the Clinton impeachment defense team such as David Kendall and Nicole Seligman. Mr. Rogan has received the highest possible rating from the American Bar Association. . . .
But none of that is good enough for Ms. Boxer, who has given him a "blue slip"--exercising her prerogative under Senate tradition to block judicial nominations from her home state. That means the Judiciary Committee won't even give him a hearing. Boxer spokeswoman Natalie Ravitz told me the senator's opposition is based on Mr. Rogan's "out of the mainstream" policy views, but Ms. Ravitz also told the Associated Press that Mr. Rogan "was one of the most enthusiastic backers of impeachment--he thought President Clinton had committed high crimes and misdemeanors. The Senate certainly disagreed with that conclusion, as did Sen. Boxer."
Many California legal figures are shocked at Ms. Boxer's sudden animus. . . . Ms. Boxer is refusing to allow Mr. Rogan even the courtesy of a hearing. Left-wing bloggers are commending her "courage" in stopping "the reactionary Rogan" from taking a federal judgeship for which so many people in both parties think he's eminently qualified. Far from exhibiting courage, Ms. Boxer is knuckling under to her party's most extreme elements.
Tags: Barbara Boxer, federal judges, Jim Rogan, John Fund To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
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