A Somber Annual Meeting for Conservative Lawyers

[NVMojo]

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 — For the last 20 years, the Federalist Society, a conclave of conservative lawyers, has steadily flourished, even when there was a Democrat in the White House. But the recent election results, along with increased partisan bitterness over judicial nominations, may have given an unaccustomed jolt to members of the group, whose annual convention concluded on Saturday.

The event has usually been one in which many society members could look at their reflections in the hallway mirrors of the Mayflower Hotel here and, with only a little imagination, see themselves wearing a judge’s robes.

No group has been more influential in sending up candidates for the federal courts; when President Bush took office in 2001, the society had recommended to him the majority of his first slate of 11 federal appeals court judges. His appointments to the Supreme Court, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., were both active in the Federalist Society and enjoyed strong support from it.

But the wheel of judicial fortune has turned. The Senate Democrats who will be seated in January will constitute a majority, and they say they are determined to block any of Mr. Bush’s judicial nominees whom they deem too conservative.

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/19/washington/19federalist.html

[Drum]

1. Note to Federalist Society: buy mothballs.

My fav snip from the article:

Senator Charles E. Schumer, a New York Democrat who has been outspoken in opposing Mr. Bush’s nominees, said Friday that the election results “dramatically changed everything.”

“The days when the Federalist Society would get just about anything it wanted are over,” Mr. Schumer said.

[tigereye]

2. all I can say is thank god.

[acmejack]

3. No kidding.