Judge asks for investigation of McConnell's role in creating federal bench vacancy

[G_j]

https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/mitch-mcconnell/2020/05/04/judge-asks-mcconnell-investigation-allegedly-pressuring-judges/3083144001/

ANDREW WOLFSON | LOUISVILLE COURIER JOURNAL

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Just days before the Senate Judiciary Committee is set to consider the nomination of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s protégé to a federal appeals court, the court's chief judge requested an investigation of McConnell's role in creating the vacancy.

Demand Justice, a progressive judicial watchdog group, requested a postponement of Wednesday’s scheduled hearing before the Senate Judiciary on the nomination of Judge Justin Walker of Louisville to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

The chief judge of that court issued a public order May 1 asking U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts to transfer to another circuit Demand Justice’s allegation that a judge on the court may have been persuaded to retire to allow another judge to take his seat.

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The Courier Journal and the Times previously reported that McConnell privately lobbied judges to retire in time for Donald Trump to fill their seats this term.

The Washington Post recently reported that the White House has been considering Walker for a seat on the appeals court since long before Judge Thomas Griffith, who occupies the seat, announced his retirement.


..more..

[grumpyduck]

1. If the investigation shows he did something improper,

I HOPE THEY NAIL HIS ASS!

[procon]

2. Isn't this a pattern in the Trump administration?

It's not new, Trump pressured Justice Anthony Kennedy to retire early and give up his Supreme Court so he could install Brett Kavanaugh.

This extortion racket is Trump's calling card and Mitch is just using his boss's tried and true tactics.

[Midnight Writer]

4. Yes, this seems to be an established GOP tactic at this point.