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ACU Urges Vote on 16-Year-Stalled Judicial Nomination of Terrence Boyle

A version of this blog post appeared as a press release from the American Conservative Union.

Free the judge from congressional purgatory

ALEXANDRIA, VA— The American Conservative Union, the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots conservative lobbying organization, today urged Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) to schedule a vote on Judge Terrence Boyle, a decision that has been disgracefully delayed for more than a decade.

In 1991, President George H.W. Bush nominated Judge Boyle for a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit. Democrats and their liberal allies forcefully opposed the nomination, which consequently languished for 10 years. In 2001, President George W. Bush re-nominated Judge Boyle. But, again, the left kicked into hysterical overdrive and, for another four years, prevented the senate from simply voting on the nominee.

“Today—16 years later—Judge Terrence Boyle remains in congressional purgatory, wedged between those, like Senator John Edwards, who oppose cloture for unrelated personal reasons, and those, like Senator Frist, who repeatedly postpone cloture,” said ACU executive vice president J. William Lauderback.

“What makes this delay even more offensive,” Lauderback continued, “is that of the 11 people President Bush nominated to the federal bench in 2001, Judge Boyle is the only one who remains unvoted on. He has handled this quagmire with patience and professionalism, as befits a man of his sterling judgment and unimpeachable credentials. Indeed, those who disagree with Judge Boyle, like those with whom he disagreed from the bench, nevertheless respect his reasoning and fairness.”

“To perpetuate this charade signals weakness and resignation,” said Lauderback. “After all, justice delayed is justice denied.”

Since the senate unanimously confirmed him in 1984, Judge Boyle has sat on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. For seven of these years, from 1997 to 2004, he served as the chief judge of this court; for five of these years, as appointed by Chief Justice William Rehnquist, he served on the Judicial Resources Committee; and since 1999, again appointed by Chief Justice Rehnquist, he has served on the Judicial Branch Committee.

Conservatives Outraged at Abiding Eminent Domain Abuse

A version of this blog post appeared as a press release from the American Conservative Union.

In New London, CT, a man’s home is the city’s castle

ALEXANDRIA, VA— The American Conservative Union, the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots conservative lobbying organization, today expressed outrage at the inconceivable decision by the city council of New London, CT, to evict and impose back fees and rent on homeowners Susette Kelo and the Cristofaro family.

One year ago, in a stunning interpretation of the Constitution’s eminent domain clause, the Supreme Court ruled that the government can seize the homes of law-abiding citizens if some bureaucrat believes that other tenants (namely, wealthy developers) can generate more tax revenue. Despite the backlash the case prompted—scores of states have created legislation restricting the use of eminent domain; the House overwhelmingly passed the Private Property Rights Protection Act; even Ralph Nader condemned the verdict—the New London city council continues to defy both common sense and common decency.

“This is a flagrant abuse of eminent domain, morally and politically,” said ACU chairman David A. Keene. “The right to private property—to keep the fruits of one’s labor—is an essential part of the human experience and an essential ingredient for prosperity. Our homes are more than just wood and bricks to be condemned, commandeered and sold to the most politically connected bidder.”

Keene continued: “Susette Kelo and the Cristofaros are the heroic victims of seven people in the so-called Constitution State who do not understand that the constitution limits government power, not expands it. Today, a man’s home is no longer his castle. Today, a man’s home is the city’s castle.”

In February, Susette Kelo received the 2006 Ronald Reagan Award from the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), a project of the American Conservative Union Foundation. Her acceptance speech is available here.