Monday, May 9, 2011

Clarion-Ledger weighs in on the redistricting three-judge panel and the order

Last week, the Clarion-Ledger dropped an interesting editorial concerning the three-judge panel in the redistricting lawsuit. In it, they recount the flap over Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant (R) claiming an advantage due to Fifth Circuit Chief Judge Edith Jones being appointed by President Reagan while Gov. Haley Barbour (R) worked on Reagan's staff. Here's what they wrote:
Bryant said he wasn't trying to imply Republicans were seeking political favors from the court.

He said he simply told GOP senators in a private meeting that Edith H. Jones, chief judge of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, was nominated to the court by President Ronald Reagan, while Barbour was political director.

While Bryant made it seem to be simply an innocent observation, the context is noteworthy, if nothing else, that it came up in a private GOP meeting.
When it's all said and done, the brouhaha that erupted in the wake of Bryant's comments about the Court will be one of the enduring memories of this entire process. Thankfully, and as the Clarion-Ledger correctly notes, the panel has been remarkably above all of the partisan rancor surrounding the contentious redistricting issue.

2 comments:

CCPundit said...

When are the Senators going to be deposed Matt?

Cottonmouth said...

During the immediate aftermath of Phil's statement, his footsoldiers were running for cover and denying anything like that ever happened. Then Phil owned up to it. No need to depose folks who all agree on the same version of the facts.

That being said, the answer to your question is contained in the order. Not that it will ever come to that now.