President Obama has nominated federal district judge David F. Hamilton (of the Southern District of Indiana) to the Seventh Circuit. Judge Hamilton received some notoriety last year for striking down an Indiana law requiring sex offenders to consent to a search of their computer at any time. For more coverage, check out Volokh, Sentencing Law & Policy, and the Marquette Faculty Blog. From the Indianapolis Star:
Federal judge David F. Hamilton of Indiana could be President Barack Obama’s first nominee to the federal appellate bench, the New York Times reported today.
The paper, citing unnamed administration officials, reported that Hamilton is expected to be nominated for a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
Interest groups already have reacted to the news. The president of People for The American Way, a liberal advocacy group, called Hamilton an ideal choice.
“Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a willingness to put principle ahead of politics and bring an open mind to every case,” Kathryn Kolbert said. “Judge Hamilton has shown a deep commitment to the rule of law and core constitutional principles of liberty, equality, and justice for all Americans.”
Kolbert said she is also encouraged that, according to the Times story, Hamilton is backed by Indiana Sens. Evan Bayh, a Democrat, and Richard Lugar, a Republican.
Hamilton is the nephew of former Indiana Democratic Rep. Lee Hamilton, who supported Obama in last year's presidential campaign. He was appointed U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Indiana in 1994. Before that he was a partner at the Indianapolis-based firm of Barnes & Thornburg, and he served from 1989-1991 as counsel to Bayh when Bayh was governor.
The paper, citing unnamed administration officials, reported that Hamilton is expected to be nominated for a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
Interest groups already have reacted to the news. The president of People for The American Way, a liberal advocacy group, called Hamilton an ideal choice.
“Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a willingness to put principle ahead of politics and bring an open mind to every case,” Kathryn Kolbert said. “Judge Hamilton has shown a deep commitment to the rule of law and core constitutional principles of liberty, equality, and justice for all Americans.”
Kolbert said she is also encouraged that, according to the Times story, Hamilton is backed by Indiana Sens. Evan Bayh, a Democrat, and Richard Lugar, a Republican.
Hamilton is the nephew of former Indiana Democratic Rep. Lee Hamilton, who supported Obama in last year's presidential campaign. He was appointed U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Indiana in 1994. Before that he was a partner at the Indianapolis-based firm of Barnes & Thornburg, and he served from 1989-1991 as counsel to Bayh when Bayh was governor.
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