Elena Kagan – Willing Accomplice (Don Siegelman)

[deminks]

http://blogs.alternet.org/michaelcollinsdc/2010/06/22/elena-kagan-willing-accomplice/

Should Elena Kagan be approved as a justice to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States?

As it turns out there’s a supremely simple method of testing her suitability. Once applied, citizens of any political persuasion will see that her nomination should be rejected outright.

As Solicitor General of the United States, Kagan argued against an appeal to the Supreme Court by former Alabama Governor, Don Siegelman in November, 2009. The Siegelman prosecution is viewed by many as one of the gravest injustices of the modern era, a purely political prosecution initiated by the Gonzales Justice Department.

Forty four former state attorneys general were so concerned that they issued a public petition on Siegelman’s behalf in 2007. The petition to the United States House of Representatives urged prompt investigation of the many shady dealings in the Siegelman case, before, during and after his trial. They framed their petition in this simple sentence: “The U.S. justice system should be above reproach.” It wasn’t.

In 2009, ninety-one former state attorneys general filed a friend of the court brief supporting Siegelman’s appeal to the Supreme Court. They argued, “clear legal standards are required to protect individuals from politically-motivated prosecutions based on conduct that is ingrained in our campaign finance system and has always been considered legal.” That’s a discrete way of saying Siegelman’s prosecution and conviction was politically motivated.

(snip)

Without any doubt, Kagan knew that her position as U.S. Solicitor General was voluntary; that she could simply refuse to argue for a further miscarriage of justice.

(end snip)

Article is a week old, but relevant today since the Supreme Court vacated the lower court ruling in Siegelman's conviction.

http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0629/supreme-court-vacates-don-siegelman/

[davidinalameda]

1. one of the gravest injustices of the modern era?

really?

wow

hyperbole much?

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Yes, one of the gravest injustices of the modern era. No, not hyperbole.

[tblue]

4. Agree. It was a travesty. nt

[autorank]

10. +3 It is simply outrageous

The charges begin with a US Attorney married to the top Republican consultant in Alabama, a close
associate of Rove.

The case is tried by a Judge who gets a huge federal contract in the middle of the trial process,
$178 million but there's no "conflict of interest."

91 former Attorneys General file a petition (these are prosecutors!) and friend of the court brief
listing the many outrages of this entire process...

...and nothing is done other than have the prosecutors investigate themselves.

Forgot this one, the current US Attorney lawyers on the case ask for a bump in sentence from
7 to 20 years after the appellate court dropped 1/2 of the remaining charges. How does that
make any sense.

This is our Dryfus Affair, our great injustice painted in broad strokes for all to see.

[midnight]

2. This makes me sick.

Forty four former state attorneys general were so concerned that they issued a public petition on Siegelman’s behalf in 2007. The petition to the United States House of Representatives urged prompt investigation of the many shady dealings in the Siegelman case, before, during and after his trial. They framed their petition in this simple sentence: “The U.S. justice system should be above reproach.” It wasn’t.

[Old and In the Way]

5. I think reopening Siegelman's case would quickly lead to

criminal indictments of key Republicans, particularly Karl Rove. This would set off the Republican Wurlitizer into hyperdrive. I really think Obama is trying to avoid any cases or investigations that would expose probable cause and start the indictment/prosecution ball rolling. He'll be rewarded for his willingness to turn the other cheeck just like Clinton was - a Republican impeachment should they get control of Congress in November.

[howaboutme]

7. Are you tired of "looking towards the future"

instead of the past, that the politicians always tout instead of holding politicians accountable? I want to see some criminal trials that deal with corruption, political subversion, and treason and some hangings of these corrupt bastards. Do it once and it won't happen again. There is far too much forgiveness amongst political peers and too much uncharged, unaccountable corruption against the people.

[tblue]

6. I hate this.

Why can't we have a strong, bold, unabashed liberal appointed to the court? I know, I know the politics of why not. Man, are we skewed and boy, are we therefore screwed.

[Mimosa]

8. I wanted Diane Wood.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diane_Wood

I don't trust somebody with no record on the bench.

[autorank]

9. Thanks for posting this!

I am that guy, Michael Collins.

And now we have a new twist. The Supreme Court threw out charges against Siegelman.

Will Justice refile or will they just leg it die?

At the very least, there should be an investigation into that judge who won a $178 million
dollar contract in the midst of the trial, yet didn't disqualify himself. Now that's worthy
of a major investigation.

:hi:

[Me.]

11. K & R