GOP Hammers 2nd Circuit Nominee on Death Penalty Case, my observations about the hearing

usregimechange

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Sun May-02-10 02:24 AM
Original message

GOP Hammers 2nd Circuit Nominee on Death Penalty Case, my observations about the hearing

Edited on Sun May-02-10 02:29 AM by usregimechange

Judge Robert Chatigny, nominated for the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, faced withering questions Wednesday from Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee about how he handled the case of a notorious serial killer.

The serial killer, Michael Ross, was nicknamed the "Roadside Strangler" for a string of killings in the early 1980s. In 2005, Chatigny, as a federal district court judge, pushed for a hearing to determine Ross' mental competency. He pushed so hard that prosecutors later filed an ethics complaint against him.

A three-judge committee that included then-U.S. District Judge Michael Mukasey publicly cleared Chatigny of any ethics violations, but memory of Chatigny's actions caused a delay in his confirmation hearing for the circuit. The hearing was initially scheduled for March 10.

"I don't think this is a matter that's going to lightly go away," Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., the Judiciary Committee's top Republican, told Chatigny today. "I think it evidenced the lack of a proper understanding of your role in the matter."
http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202454109767&rss=newswire

Senator Klobuchar chaired this hearing of the US Senate Judiciary Committee

US District Judge Robert Chatigny responds to questions during the hearing. The hearing was held on April 28th 2010. Judge Chatigny was previously nominated by William J. Clinton on August 5, 1994 to the U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut where he has served since.

After watching the hearing in it's entirety tonight I think two interactions and two observations made this hearing unique:

Observations

The entire hearing save about a minute was devoted to Chatigny's action in one case out of the more than 4 thousands cases that he has been involved in.

The fact that there was only one Democratic Senator in attendance at the hearing and three Republicans, made for a rather unbalanced hearing.

Interactions

Senator Coburn suggested that there was a pattern of indicators (drawn selectively by the three Republican Senators) that he was soft on crime. Judge Chatigny carefully replied: "I understand that a narrative has developed that depicts me in this way."

I kept waiting for Senator Klobuchar to cite cases where he was extremely tough on crime, which she did toward the very end of the hearing in order to counter the obviously selective sample offered by the Republicans. She also noted the the government has never appealed any of his sentences.

After learning more about Chatigny's role in the Ross case, if I were involved in advise and consent, I would be more inclined to support him. He went out of his way to ensure that the Constitution was followed, in a matter of life and death.

Previous Posts

Obama nominates another former Clinton Appointee to the US Circuit (Thu Feb-25-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7790937

Fox News accuses Obama judicial nominee of "supporting (a) serial killer" (Wed Mar-10-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7882063

Senate schedules confirmation hearing this Wed for 2nd Circuit nominee Robert Chatigny (Mon Apr-26-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8219335

Hartford Courant: Key GOP Backing May Help Obama Nominee From Connecticut (Tue Apr-27-10)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8228320

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usregimechange

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Sun May-02-10 07:43 AM
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1. I expect it to be 5 maybe 6 weeks for his nomination to get a vote in committee

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usregimechange

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Sun May-02-10 09:20 AM
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2. Liu may get his first delay after the current district nominees here are moved out of committee:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8242139

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usregimechange

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Sun May-02-10 10:14 AM
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3. Ross was diagnosed with "sexual sadism," that is often suggestive of a very serious condition(s)

Edited on Sun May-02-10 10:29 AM by usregimechange

among the possibilities are antisocial personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, and/or schizophrenia. I am not an expert in criminal psychopathology but I am licensed to diagnose in the state that I live and I can tell you true sexual sadism doesn't often if ever arise from minor adjustment problems.

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