Mississippi coverage of Mississippi judicial nominees

The Jackson (Mississippi) Clarion-Ledger published two pieces over the weekend reminding us of all the reasons why Judge Leslie Southwick, nominee to the Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, deserves a vote regarding his confirmation.

The editors wrote yesterday:

"Southwick's nomination should go to the full body, as the U.S. Constitution requires, and senators would see his record as a judge, which has been one of professionalism, hard work and integrity. The senators would see his service to his community, his service in the military in Iraq, and the support of his peers, Sens. Thad Cochran and Trent Lott. And they would have no other conclusion than that he is fully qualified, would make an excellent federal judge and would vote accordingly, confirming him."

And Senator Trent Lott published today in the same paper a piece entitled "Senate should back dignity before partisanship as judicial hearings near." Senator Lott is optimistic about the chances of both of his home-state nominees:

"As the Senate approaches a final vote on Judges Southwick and Aycock, I'm optimistic and hope we are back on the high road in confirming judicial nominees."

Senator Lott also reminds us that

"It takes a special person to be a judge - to obtain the education, make the rigorous decisions and undergo the exhausting FBI background checks and tough confirmation process that all federal judicial nominees must endure.

The Senate may not confirm every judicial nominee, but we should confirm all who are qualified. Judicial nominees were once treated with dignity, before partisanship, and I hope they will be again."